Landscape Pet Peeve - Please don't do this!!!

[Red State Rebel]

I notice peoples landscaping a lot - I'm always looking for ideas, etc. One of the things we learned in our class on trees is when you mulch around the base, the mulch should look like a bagel, not a volcano!!!

It amazes me that landscapers haven't got a clue about this by now. When you heap the mulch up around the base of the tree it can cause a number of problems - roots growing up into the mulch around the base of the tree, the mulch can compact to the point where it is like a waterproof shield and all the rain/water will run off the volcano and away from the tree, etc.

Mulch well, it can retain moisture, but make sure that the mulch tapers down to the ground at the base of the tree.

Thank you - I feel better now.....

[oxymoron]

1. My landscaping pet peeves....

Endless rows of arborvitae! Please, find another species for your privacy screen. Arborvitae will inherit the earth.

Also, people who plant invasive, non-native species like English ivy. English ivy is now choking parts of our forests in the NW.

[Mr.Green93]

2. how often should yard trees be topped?

[oxymoron]

3. You shouldn't top trees.

http://www.treesaregood.com/treecare/topping.asp

[Red State Rebel]

4. Recommended method of reducing the size is

called drop crotching. Cutting larger branches back to a natural crotch in the growth. Topping creates weak growth. Never reduce the size of any plant by more than 1/3.