What is with all the volcanoes?
Some scientists predict an increase in natural disasters as a result of global warming. But somehow I think something else is responsible for all the volcanoes I see erupting in my neighborhood.
‘Volcano’ is the term coined for that mound of mulch that folks pile around a tree this time of year. Even though all the credible references advise against this, it somehow seems to be very popular. I drive through developments in which landscapers have generously heaped the mulch into a nice pyramid around every tree.
After spending a fair amount of money on new trees, you would think a homeowner would want to protect that investment. One of my neighbors recently built a series of volcanoes around the trees throughout his yard. It looks kind of cool, but just like Mount Vesuvius, these volcanoes can be deadly. That pile of mulch heats the base of the tree and holds moisture up against the bark. Not only does this encourage pests and diseases, but the tree responds by sending out new roots into that pile of mulch. Instead of spreading outward, these new roots grow inside the pile and over time can girdle the tree as they expand.
The International Society of Arboriculture recommends mulching tree root zones to help retain moisture in the ground and act as a weed barrier. But to avoid decay, disease and pests, ISA calls for mulch to be kept one to two inches away from the base of the tree. So a good gardening practice after mulching is to go back and sweep away any that might have piled up on the tree flare.
The trees will thank you.








This world can sometimes be a little chaotic. But there is no reason that needs to spread to your garden. Harmony is the design concept that ties things together. It may be the repetition of colors, shapes or textures or a unifying theme employed throughout the garden. It is an important principle that tells the visitor that the space makes sense and is pleasing to view.
in the containers to provide an arrangement that harmonizes with the display in the bed.
But consider the potential damage of transmitting a mosaic virus from one of your dahlias to all of your prized dahlias. Or the ramifications of spreading a rose fungus from one shrub to the entire rose garden. Here is a picture of wisteria infected with bacterial crown gall. It likely had this disease long before showing any symptoms. All of our wisteria vines are pruned in the late winter each year. And you guessed it, they all now have crown gall and need to be removed along with their infected soils. 





Some trees need very little help to grow tall, straight and well-balanced. Others benefit from a little shaping. This weeping redbud needs a lot of “untangling” each winter with the help of my recently sharpened pruners.
Late winter is a great time to prune trees. By removing the end growth of a branch, you are forcing the side buds to take over. Redirecting growth is that simple.
With a little vision, you can determine which branches will grow to become the beefy arms of the sculpture. Selectively thin out competing branches and make cuts each year to flex those arms in a manner that you find appealing.
create a layering effect to the branching. Art is subjective. But the nice thing about this art form is that it is also alive. You can revisit your artwork every winter and change or improve upon it as you see fit.
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