Mulching Mistakes That Hurt Plants and Waste Money

Mulch should conserve moisture, moderate soil temperature, and reduce weeds — not smother stems. Piling mulch against trunks (“volcano mulching”) invites rot, pests, and girdling roots. Deep layers every year without removing the old mat can stay soggy and keep water from reaching soil.

Aim for about two to three inches on most beds, pulled back slightly from stems and trunks. Refresh thin spots instead of burying plants under a new mountain each spring. Choose material for the planting: shredded hardwood for classic beds, rock for truly arid designs where heat is acceptable.

Done right, mulch is one of the highest-return maintenance tasks in a landscape. Done wrong, it becomes an annual expense that quietly stresses the plants you are trying to showcase.