“I…I just wonder why?”

There are many different methods for maintaining a healthy garden, but pouring concrete around a tree is not one of them.

On the r/arborists subreddit, a user shared a photo of their neighbor’s unfortunate gardening mistake and wrote: “I walk past this all week and just wonder WHY?”

The image shows a huge tree with its base and roots surrounded by concrete.

“At least…it’s not volcanic mulch,” one Reddit user commented.

Mulch volcanoes are another damaging landscaping tactic that involves piling up soil around the base of a tree. Excessive mulch is unnecessary and costly, and it also deprives roots of air and sunlight, causing rot and disease.

There are far superior ways to create a healthy garden, such as adding native plants or a natural lawn.

Native plants are adapted to their natural habitat and therefore need fewer resources to thrive. This reduces homeowners’ water bills and utility costs while reducing the time spent on yard work.

Additionally, native plants promote biodiversity and create a healthy ecosystem for pollinators – like bees and butterflies – which help protect our food supply.

Clover and buffalo grass are two low-maintenance options for transitioning to a natural lawn and replacing traditional turf (or concrete). Xeriscaping, a method of landscaping that reduces or eliminates the need for irrigation, can create an interesting aesthetic with stones and drought-tolerant plants.

What is the hardest thing about maintaining your garden?

Mow the lawn

Weed control

Keep pests at bay

I don’t have a yard

Click on your choice to see the results and express your opinion

Even partially replacing the lawn with one of these options or with native plant gardens allows homeowners to reap many benefits.

The editors were outraged to see the tree surrounded by concrete. One user wrote: “The tree will gain over time. »

Another user commented: “The poor tree is doing its best to break through this concrete. »

In response, another Redditor joked: “I don’t know about you, but I’m all for it!”

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