Forestry Department
In March of 2013, the City of Bexley was accredited as an arboretum by the Morton Register of Arboreta, making it the first City in the United States to successfully obtain arboretum accreditation. For nearly 25 years the City of Bexley has been a participant in the Tree City USA program, carefully compiling a catalogue of the over 14,000 trees that are managed by the Bexley City forester within the City's right-of-ways and public parks. The City takes pride in maintaining and pruning our trees.
Explore the Arboretum Virtually!
Learn about the various tree species in Bexley, tree walks, parks, and more by visiting our Arboretum website.
Contact Information
Grant Archer, Urban Forester
garcher@bexley.org
Phone: (614) 559-4225
Bexley Service Garage
2777 Delmar Drive
Bexley, Ohio 43209
Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday
7:00 am - 3:30 pm
proper mulching : ordinance 28-23
As an accredited municipal arboretum, the City of Bexley takes pride in our tree care. In 2023, the City adopted a new city ordinance (28-23) defining standards for tree care and proper mulching techniques to help ensure the health of our trees. Please review the ordinance to familiarize yourself with the proper ways to apply mulch.
About Mulch Volcanos!
One of our greatest concerns is “mulch volcanos” or mounding of mulch against the trunk of the tree. This mistake will lead to the demise of a tree. Mulch volcanoes promote root growth across the trunk of the tree forming girdling roots. As the trunk and roots grow, they both increase in size. With time, the crossing roots compress the vital tissue of the trunk, which limits water uptake.
How to properly mulch a tree:
Make no contact with the trunk of the tree, there should be approximately two inches of bare soil between the mulch and trunk of the tree.
The tree's root flare should be visible. Apply to an area no more than three inches in depth and as large as possible.
A mulch bed extending to the dripline (the total length of the branches) is the best practice. However, a mulch ring with a 5-foot radius from the tree's base is common and sufficient in a city setting.
As a tree grows, so too should its mulch bed. If new mulch is applied to an existing bed, the present mulch should be removed to avoid mounding.
A proper mulch ring has many benefits:
Using organic material like wood chips enhances soil fertility, provides nutrients to trees, retains moisture, and reduces evaporation, promoting a healthy root system. Adequate watering is essential for tree health.
Mulch acts as a protective barrier for tree trunks, guarding against damage from string trimmers and lawnmowers, insulates roots from extreme temperatures, and prevents weed growth.
Turf grass has dense root mats, and brief rain events or light watering often do not reach the tree roots. This is one reason why trees' unfavorable surface roots sometimes develop.