Use mulch with a low percentage of tannic acid, a known plant toxin found in bark. Our mulch is made from entire trees, not just the bark, so our mulch contains much less tannic acid than most.
Stir your mulch three times each season.
Keep mulch away from the trunk and root crown of trees.
Mulch to drip line if possible.
Weed as needed or apply something like "Preen" before applying the mulch to help stop weed growth. Follow the label directions!