Too much mulch detrimental to trees

Driving into town the other day I was depressed about how this mulch thing has really gotten out of hand.  Every tree looked like a telephone pole sticking out of a rounded mound or orange-looking mulch. 

All I could think was “poor trees.” I keep writing about it, but is doesn’t seem people are getting the message that too much mulch is a bad thing. 

I know, some people have been liberated, but we still have some more work to do.  The bottom line: Two inches of coarse mulch that is not piled around the trunk.

Mulching is like comfort food for people: the more they pile around their plants the better they feel. But, just like food, too much mulch is definitely not a good thing for one’s overall health.