Expert issues warning against troublesome landscaping practice: 'One of the worst things you can do'
Lawn lovers will do anything to keep their plants and yard looking nice, but sometimes it's what not to do that can really keep your plant-life thriving.
In a TikTok video posted by Arborist Tune (@aborist.tune.44), the user shares how using too much mulch and piling it around a tree can cause deadly damage to your gorgeous greenery.
@arborist.tune.44 Say no to mulch volcanoes around your #trees! #mulch #tree #care #arborist #learnontiktok #fyp #nature #plants ♬ original sound - Arborist Tune
"This is known as a mulch volcano," the user says, showing a tree with a large amount of mulch piled up against the base of it. "This is one of the worst things you can do for your trees," they continue.
Mulch volcanoes can be seen all over, despite their increasingly known ability to damage trees. A homeowner shared that once they dug up their mulch volcano, the tree's roots had grown into the mulch, not the soil.
Arborist Tune shared more concerns with mulch volcanoes. "It locks moisture against the tree's trunk, which wants to be dry. Over time, mulch volcanoes will cause decay and rot … making it easy for pathogenic fungi, diseases, and insects to move into your tree," the user says in the video.
An observer of mulch volcanoes took matters into their own hands, digging up the buried tree trunk. Arborist Tune recommends using mulch, but only as is appropriate — not covering the root flare of the tree, where the tree's major structural roots are visible above ground.
Watch now: How bad is a gas stove for your home's indoor air quality?
"You can extend your mulch circle as far as you want as your tree grows, and you can even put other native plants under the tree's shade," the TikToker adds.
Adding native plants to your lawn — in a process called rewilding — is another key way to keep your lawn healthy, while giving back to your surrounding outdoor ecosystem. Native plants will benefit the local pollinators, which in turn keep your plants and the local food supply healthy, improving human life and limiting your lawn maintenance. Plus, native plants will require less added water or toxic chemicals to thrive. That means less money spent by the homeowner.
Commenters shared the poster's concern for mulch volcanoes, with one asking, "Why do people make mulch volcanoes if it's bad for the trees?"
Another user responded, saying, "They mulch every year and don't remove old mulch, so it piles up."
Someone else responded to the video, adding, "Thanks, never knew that!"
What's the hardest thing about taking care of your yard?
Mowing the lawn
Controlling weeds
Keeping pests at bay
I don't have a yard
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Expert issues warning against troublesome landscaping practice: 'One of the worst things you can do' first appeared on The Cool Down.
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings