It's one thing for a homeowners association to be picky about your lawn. It's another thing entirely when they start wasting your money to actively kill the neighborhood trees. Unfortunately, that's not a joke.

An incident blew up in a community Facebook group after a homeowner named Ralph Robbins had finally had enough. 

Before his post, residents were already begging the HOA to stop piling massive mounds of mulch around the community's trees. It's a practice called "volcano mulching."

Robbins even said the HOA's new landscaping manager admitted it's a terrible idea that would waste "many thousands of dollars." 

So, problem solved, right? Nope. 

Robbins' post included a photo of the many bags of fresh mulch that 18-wheeler trucks dropped off at the neighborhood's clubhouse. There are also pictures of the giant mulch mounds themselves.

What's the big deal with a little extra mulch? It's a slow-motion tree killer. 

According to the National Association of Landscape Professionals, these "mulch volcanoes" are a huge waste of money. They're also actively unhealthy for the tree because they trap moisture against the trunk and suffocate the roots. This can lead to disease and root rot. 

A gardener on TikTok put it perfectly with a simple tip: "Think doughnut and not volcano."

But it sometimes seems like HOAs and bad landscaping go hand in hand. Another HOA showed used heat-trapping rocks that basically cooked tree roots. And in yet another case, contractors just left newly planted trees to die, still tied up in their burlap sacks. 

What's your preferred style of yard? Nicely cut grass 😎 Wild grasses and flowers 🌼 Xeriscaping 🌵 Fake grass 🤷 Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

Fortunately, there are way cheaper, smarter options for tree care. 

Instead of spending a fortune killing trees, a natural lawn can provide a world of benefits. Plants like clover or native grasses save a ton of time and money. They create a yard that's actually good for the bees and butterflies we need for our food supply as well.

People on Facebook were just as angry.

"It seems this is the 'best' we can do with HOA $$$ So disappointing," one user commented. 

Another asked what homeowners could do to fight back.

Robbins gave them a solid piece of advice, replying that local TV stations often have consumer reporters who "like doing HOA abuse stories. Fox26 has been very active in Fosters Ridge."

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