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A comment on A study reveals that deciduous trees' roots remain active in winter. Parent comment

Re:A study reveals that deciduous trees' roots remain active... by zdragnar on Tuesday March 25, 2025 @11:39AM (#43472629)
Since OP mentioned both with and without the mulch got fertilizer, it's definitely insulation.

They also mentioned "bad dirt" as well, so there's a very good chance the mulch also helped with moisture retention.

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Re:A study reveals that deciduous trees' roots remain active... by abakker on Tuesday March 25, 2025 @12:57PM (#43473438)
yeah, we have alkaline expansive clay, so moisture retention was an objective. I added the nitrogen to offset the fact that fresh wood chips tend to be a nitrogen sink rather than a source.

I theorize that thermal protection and moisture retention together have kept those plants happier.

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Re:A study reveals that deciduous trees' roots remain active... by x______________ on Tuesday March 25, 2025 @10:03PM (#43478100)
Nutritional "thermal protection and moisture retention" given that you've also added fertilizer.

As a side topic to the original post, do you have any comparison pictures to support the topic and theory? I'd be interesting to see your progress!

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