Has anyone ever used these before? I have several trees that I put these around when I first planted them and every single one of those trees are runts that have hardly grown at all since I planted them, probably at least 4 years ago. Two are Bradford Pears, one is a Dogwood. The mats are covered by our Centipede grass now and are impossible to remove. The trees are all alive, they're just really small. Anyone else used these and noticed stunted growth? Maybe it's just a coincidence but the one Bradford that I planted in a different location (at the same time), and didn't put a mat around, is nearly twice the size of the other two. :? Hey, if you want Bradfords that bloom but you don't want them to get big and split, well I may have found a way to dwarf them.
It's possible the growth has been stunted because if the root balls of the trees are smal and the roots have not reach out passed the mulch mat the tree is not receiving enough water and nutrients. This used to happen back when regular plastic was used as weed control under mulch and stones. the water doesnt reach the roots and it takes alway for the plants roots to grow and find access to water. That why landscaping frabic was develop that allows water to pass through it. Water seaps straight down through dirt.
