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harmful mulch

11 Mulching Mistakes That Can Suffocate Roots

October 31, 2025 by Brandon Marcus Leave a Comment

Some Mulching Mistakes Can Suffocate Roots

Mulch: it’s the unsung hero of landscaping, the cozy blanket your plants rely on to stay cool in summer, warm in winter, and free of weeds year-round. But here’s the catch—mulching the wrong way can turn that helpful layer into a suffocating, root-choking disaster. Gardeners everywhere make small, innocent-looking mistakes that can slowly strangle their…

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Filed Under: garden tips Tagged With: garden mulch, harmful mulch, mistakes, mulch, mulching, mulching mistakes, organic mulch, plant roots, roots, toxic mulch, water, water retention, watering, watering plants, weeds

Why Mulching Too Early Can Damage Perennials

October 8, 2025 by Brandon Marcus Leave a Comment

Mulching too early can damage perennials.

You finally feel it—the first warm weekend after a long, gray winter. The birds are singing, your gloves are on, and you’re ready to mulch like a pro. You grab that fresh, earthy-smelling pile of mulch and start spreading it around your flower beds, feeling productive and proud. But hold on—before you cover your perennials…

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Filed Under: garden tips Tagged With: flowering, flowers, frugal mulching, garden tips, harmful mulch, healthy soil, moisture, mulch, mulching, organic mulch, Perennials, plant damage, plant tips, planting, plants, roots, soil, soil alternatives

10 Hidden Dangers Lurking in Your Backyard Mulch

July 11, 2025 by Teri Monroe Leave a Comment

dangerous mulch

Mulch is often used in gardening to retain moisture and deter weeds. But did you know that some mulches are toxic? Pets, children, and vulnerable individuals are all at risk when it comes to toxic mulch. Plus, many mulches attract unwanted pests. There’s a lot that you need to know about these concerns before you…

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Filed Under: garden tips Tagged With: harmful mulch, mulch, toxic mulch

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protecting herbs from frost

How to Protect Tender Herbs From Sudden Frost

One chilly night can wipe out months of herb growth surprisingly quickly, especially when a warm fall suddenly turns cold. Basil is particularly vulnerable, but container-grown rosemary and other tender herbs may also need help when temperatures tumble. Fortunately, protecting herbs from frost doesn’t require an expensive greenhouse or a cart full of garden supplies….

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cold-frame crops

Cold-Frame Crops That Can Stretch Your Growing Season

The first frost doesn’t necessarily have to end your vegetable garden, and you don’t need an expensive heated greenhouse to keep harvesting. A simple cold frame—a low, enclosed growing space topped with glass, polycarbonate or another transparent material—captures solar warmth during the day and provides plants with additional protection from cold nights. The trick is…

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fall composting

Why Fall Composting Gives Spring Gardens a Head Start

Fall cleanup can leave gardeners staring at piles of leaves, spent vegetable plants, and other organic material that looks like waste but could actually become next year’s soil amendment. Instead of bagging everything for disposal and buying bags of compost in spring, you can put much of that material to work now. Fall composting takes…

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garden tool storage

The Right Way to Store Garden Tools Before Cold Weather

When the garden starts shutting down for winter, it’s tempting to toss the shovel against the shed wall, drop the pruners on a shelf, and promise yourself you’ll deal with everything in spring. Unfortunately, a few months of moisture, dirt and neglect can turn perfectly usable tools into rusty, dull, or cracked ones. Proper garden…

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