‘I often see this done by landscapers’

Just because something is common doesn’t mean it’s a good thing.

How people take care of trees is a good example. Piling up mulch onto trunks in the shape of a volcano has become a normal sight, but it’s actually harmful to trees, as Kurt Meyer, a real estate professional in Indiana, explained in a Facebook post.

Kurt wrote how he sees this practice everywhere and called for it to stop. He added a photo for a visual aid.

“This is a volcano. Your tree HATES this,” reads the photo’s text.

‘It starves roots near the tree trunk of oxygen and moisture,” Kurt described in his post. “In other cases [it] can trap moisture long-term, making a comfy home for insects and fungal growth.”

Luckily, it is easy to correct this misuse of mulch so that it does not slowly mangle the roots underneath and risk killing the tree.

All you have to do is dig out the volcano until the large roots are showing again. Smaller roots may have started growing higher up the trunk to find more space, and those should be cut off, as shown by Kurt’s photo.

In doing so, landscapers and home gardeners alike can protect their trees and the wider ecosystem for the long term — plus save a small fortune without needing to buy such large quantities of mulch.

Granted, mulching in moderation is still better than using chemicals to combat weeds. You just want to use it in a way that actually helps the tree, even if it doesn’t look like the neighbor’s volcano.

Funny enough, other yard-friendly practices also cost less. Transitioning toward native grasses means less watering, and using cheap natural pest controls is better for you and your lawn.

Kurt’s community appreciated the resources and called for change.

“The odd thing is, I often see this done by landscapers,” one person observed.

“It kills me when I see mulch wrapped around a tree trunk,” another added.

“I want to help every tree I see this way!” a third declared.

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