Mike McGrath hosts this call-in public radio program and offers light-hearted, organic gardening guidance.
https://whyy.org/programs/you-bet-your-garden/
Do Trees NEED Mulch? & Can a Tree Survive Severed Roots?
Do trees really NEED mulch? And can their roots be safely severed during construction? On the latest You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath reveals some surprising truths about trees. Plus: Square Foot Gardening legend Mel Bartholomew, and your fabulous phone calls!
Question of the Week:I’m about to put an addition on my house that will require a foundation being built approximately six to eight feet from a well-established maple tree that’s about 30 to 40 feet high. The builder says there’s a chance the tree will die when the roots are cut during trenching. Is there anything I can do to help increase the tree’s odds of survival?
—Mia in Yellow Springs, OH
Can Mia’s tree be saved?