Gardener shares emotional warning after spotting disturbing practice at local store: 'Seeing this today made me cry'

A video online is gaining attention, as the poster shows a grave mistake made by a common gardening store.

The TikTok video was shared by Uncle Josh Gardens (@theplanttechie), who has an internet platform dedicated to gardening. In the post, Josh pans the camera to show fruit trees with their limbs all tied up with twine.

@theplanttechie Post a 🌳 with 😢 in the comments if you agree! 💔 Seeing this today made me cry. 😭 These poor trees were tied up with twine, and that's TERRIBLE for fruit trees! ❌ Not only does it damage the limbs that are already there, but it also forces them into narrow angles—exactly the OPPOSITE of what you want when growing strong, productive trees. 🎄🚫 Fruit trees are NOT Christmas trees! They should NEVER be wrapped up like this. If you ever see this, please spread the word! Healthy fruit trees need space, proper structure, and room to grow. 🌳✨ #fruittrees #gardeningtips #treecare #orchardlife #gardening101 #growyourown #homesteading #permaculture #treehealth #plantcare #backyardorchard #fruitlover #growfood #gardeningcommunity ♬ original sound - Uncle Josh Gardens

"Seeing this today made me cry," the user says. "In fact, I came here to do a different video today, and I have to show you all this atrocity."

"Fruit trees are NOT Christmas trees!" he explains. "They should NEVER be wrapped up like this. If you ever see this, please spread the word!" 

He continues to say in the video that tying up the fruit trees will permanently damage the plant and lead to less strong, productive trees. 

This is not the first time big gardening stores have been accused of harmful practices. An arborist recently came forward, asking these kinds of stores to stop selling English ivy, an invasive species. Another plant lover took to the internet to explain the toxic chemicals put on store-bought plants, which ultimately lead to the plant's inability to thrive for long. 

By rewilding your lawn, or planting native-growing plants, you can positively contribute to your local ecosystem and right the wrongs of some of these big-box gardening stores. 

Gardening is a great way to naturally reduce stress and build a community, as proven by the outpouring of attention from fellow gardeners under Uncle Josh Garden's video. 

These disgruntled plant enthusiasts took to the comments under the TikTok to share their concern. 

"Who the hell does that to trees!" one person said.

Which of these benefits is your biggest motivation in gardening? Getting outside more 🌱 Growing healthy food 🥕 Making my yard beautiful 🏡 I don't garden 🚫 Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

Someone else added, "OMG torture!"

Another user added some firsthand insight, saying, "Home Depot don't care. They will throw them in a dumpster instead of giving them away. They have done it before."

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.