A community member became concerned about the future of a local tree after it was exposed to a counterproductive gardening trend.

In the r/arborists subreddit, they posted a picture of a shrub planted about a year ago that is piled high with mulch and wood chips at the base.

“It annoys me every time I walk by,” they captioned the image, which was humorously rated “NSFW” (not suitable for work) on Reddit, perhaps implying that such a sight is inappropriate for easily offended arborists.

This thoughtless gardening faux pas is commonly known as a “mulch volcano” because of the way the pile of soil looks when it is stacked high in a cone shape against a tree trunk.

While giving a tree a healthy amount of nutrient-rich mulch may seem like a good way to ensure growth and nutrients, it can have the opposite effect.

This prevents the roots from getting much-needed oxygen and water, and effectively suffocates them. There is also a risk that the tree will suffer from girdling, a condition in which the roots travel up through the soil in search of vital nutrients and then wrap themselves in circles around the tree trunk, eventually strangling it.

In addition, moisture collects in the layer of mulch pressed against the tree bark and remains there. This water can weaken the plant’s protective armor and make it vulnerable to diseases, parasites and fungal infections.

One Redditor made a suggestion to give the tree a fair chance of survival. “I would start with a leaf blower, piece by piece, between 8 and 10 p.m.,” he said.

However, it seems that the problem was not just superficial, as the original author explained in detail.

“It gets worse,” they said. “The mulch you see here is just a thin layer. Underneath is solid dirt heavily mixed with clay.”

Without intervention, this tree could not survive much longer. It is hopeless, but it at least serves as a warning to all aspiring arborists about the dangers of mulch volcanoes.

Since trees provide natural shade and cooling, absorb harmful air pollutants, and promote local biodiversity, the sight of this tree in such a condition is undoubtedly disturbing to community members. However, planting native plants can help mitigate the loss of this young sapling and provide many of the same benefits.

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