While rocks can be a great visual addition to a growing garden, they can have dangerous effects if misplaced around precious greenery.
One person took to Reddit to share concerns about their neighbor's use of large rocks in their yard. The user indicated their neighbor appeared to be using the rocks for "extreme 'mulching'" around the base of a large leafy tree.
"Seen while out on a run in my neighborhood," the original poster said. "At what point does the 'mulch' become structural?"
They shared an image in the post, showing at least six layers of rocks circling the single tree, completely covering its base and the surrounding grass.
Gardening and installing native plants, like regional trees, is a great way to support a thriving ecosystem in your backyard. They can keep your property looking lush and green while cutting costs of water and maintenance that non-native plants typically need more of.
When done correctly, there are many benefits to installing mulch around the base of trees in your yard, including further reducing the amount of water needed on a regular basis. However, you can actually damage your plants if this gardening method is not used properly.
As some opt to mulch with rocks because it looks clean and pretty, gardening experts at GoodNature Organic Lawn Care warned that rocks can tend to heat up during summer weather and negatively impact tree roots. Instead, they recommend wood- or leaf-based mulch.
Properly mulching your plants can help ensure consistent and strong growth, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars in increased water usage or plant replacements. It also helps protect large trees and other native plants that are a part of thriving ecosystems in your own backyard.
By protecting these plants' growth, you can further support nature and wildlife, like pollinators, which rely on such plants to survive and support our food supply.
Several other Reddit users echoed the homeowner's concerns about the extensive use of rocks in the photo.
"Yikes!" one user wrote.
"That poor tree!!" another said.
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