One gardener on TikTok is sounding the alarm about a common and costly landscaping mistake: the mulch volcano.
"This is the most common mistake I see with commercial landscapers," says Uncle Josh Gardens (@theplanttechie) in a video. "This can damage a tree and even eventually kill it if left unchecked."
@theplanttechie This is the most common mistake I see with commercial landscapers. 🌳 This can damage a tree and even eventually kill it if left unchecked. ☠️ What happens is the tree sends roots into the mulch area and those roots can girdle the trunk of the tree, causing it to cut off nutrients up the trunk. 🪵 Mulch + Volcano = Mulchcano. 🤣 Some landscapers have gotten smart and now you'll see a donut 🍩 shape instead of the volcano. 🌋 The other part of this is that it provides an area for rodents 🐀 to nest and will go in and nibble around the base and bark of the tree. 🌳 ⁉️What mulching tips do you have when you mulch around the base of your trees? 🌳 Post in the comments below 👇 #gardeninghacks #gardeningtips #gardening101 #fruittrees #homeorchard #growyourownfood #fruittreesinmybackyard #growyourownfruit #gardeninglife #gardening #homesteading #fruittree #mulching #mulch #woodmulch ♬ original sound - Uncle Josh Gardens
In the clip, the gardener spots multiple trees in a community surrounded by tall mounds of mulch and explains why the practice is so harmful.
"The tree sends roots into the mulch area and those roots can girdle the trunk of the tree, causing it to cut off nutrients up the trunk," they say.
The lack of a visible root flare, where the base of the tree widens into the ground, is a red flag.
"Please don't pile your mulch up against the bark," the TikToker warns. "It's going to let roots girdle the base of the tree. It's going to let rodents and things come in and nibble around."
Instead, mulch should be applied in a wide, flat doughnut shape, leaving space around the trunk. That shape protects trees while helping soil retain moisture — one of mulch's main benefits.
But too much mulch too close to a tree? That's a mulch volcano, or a "mulchcano," as the gardener calls it.
This mistake not only puts the tree's health at risk; it also wastes mulch and money. On a broader level, it harms local ecosystems. Dying trees reduce biodiversity and can upset the natural balance of your yard or neighborhood.
A smarter, longer-term solution is reducing the need for mulch altogether by switching to native plants and ground cover.
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The video spoke to many eco-conscious commenters who were quick to chime in.
"Drives me nuts too," one user said. "Commercial landscapers don't seem to know much!!"
"Why do people mulch trees, the forest doesn't do it," another wrote.
Often, nature knows best.
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