Far too many gardeners place mulch volcanoes around their trees. Unfortunately, this form of mulching can be incredibly harmful to trees, sometimes causing them to grow a secondary root system, as one Redditor discovered.
Posting in the r/Landscaping subreddit, a Reddit user shared a photo of a tree base that features roots above the ground.
The original poster said, "Secondary root system d/t volcano. What do we think about tackling the girdling roots with a grinder?"
Other Redditors were not impressed with the idea.
"I wouldn't use a grinder […]," one person said.
Another replied, "Grinding the roots is not a good idea. The tree is using them."
Stay hydrated and refreshed this holiday season — without any sugar or harmful additives Nuun’s zero-sugar hydration tablets are a perfect, guilt-free way to enhance your water throughout the day. You’ll get five essential electrolytes for everyday hydration — with zero grams of sugar. Plus, Nuun tablets are certified vegan and gluten-free, and they’re the perfect size to keep in your car, purse, or anywhere you'll want a healthy, restorative drink. Learn more → |
The mulch volcano already caused enough damage, and using a grinder could indeed cause further damage to this tree. In the case of removing girdling roots, it's always best to consult an arborist before making any moves.
Avoiding mulch volcanoes goes a long way in keeping trees healthy, as well. The main issue with this type of mulching is that covering a tree's roots with excess mulch prevents the tree from getting enough oxygen. When that happens, trees will sometimes create a secondary root system to consume more oxygen.
Essentially, using that much mulch is not only wasting money, but also costing you more money. You'll most likely end up needing to heal or remove your tree.
The tree isn't the only thing suffering in this scenario either. A dying tree can negatively impact the environment around it.
There's a reason dermatologists personally use this daily moisturizing sunscreen more than any other brand Dermatologists see and understand skin at a much deeper level than the rest of us, and they know that the perfect SPF both protects and corrects your skin. That's why they trust, recommend, and personally use EltaMD more than any other brand. EltaMD's clinically tested formulas are designed with dermatologists to meet the needs of any skin type or condition. They're also designed for consistent daily wear to build long-term resilience with a moisturizing, lightweight, non-comedogenic texture — plus hyaluronic acid to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Learn more → |
|
What's the hardest thing about taking care of your yard? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. |
Mowing the lawn 🏡 Using plants from your garden as compost or placing native plants around the tree's base are much more helpful actions. Native plants improve soil health, prevent erosion, and add organic matter to the soil when they decompose. All of these help keep trees healthy.
Additionally, by placing native plants in your yard, you can save time on maintenance and spend less money on water. These plants require little of either.
Rewilding your lawn, especially around trees, will attract more wildlife including pollinators. More wildlife will improve your lawn's biodiversity while pollinators help safeguard human food supplies.
And you don't have to completely revamp your outdoor space either. Even adding just a handful of native plants will have you and your trees reaping the benefits.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices — and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD's exclusive Rewards Club.
Cool Picks
