Mulching
Place mulch (pine needles, straw, bark chips, or slightly decomposed or shredded leaves) 2 or 3 inches deep around the plant. Mulch will prevent water loss, reduce weed growth, and keep lawn mowers and string trimmers from getting too close to the plant. Avoid overly deep mulch or piling the mulch up against the stems or trunk; this promotes shallow roots, disease, and pest injury. Since the root zone of a plant increases with time, the mulched area should be increased with time. Roots that grow into turf areas will be fine but will have to compete with grass roots for water and nutrients.