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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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Can Your HOA Force You to Grow Grass? One Maryland Couple Is Fighting That Battle

Can Your HOA Force You to Grow Grass? One Maryland Couple Is Fighting That Battle

Can an HOA really tell a homeowner to rip out a garden and put grass back? In Maryland, the answer gets surprisingly interesting, especially after Janet and Jeff Crouch fought their HOA over a yard filled with native plants, flowers, trees, and habitat instead of a conventional carpet of turf. Their dispute helped spark a…

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7 Ways to Make a Garden More Useful After Sunset

7 Ways to Make a Garden More Useful After Sunset

A garden does not have to clock out when the sun disappears. With a few smart additions, the same patch of soil that produces tomatoes, flowers, herbs, and leafy greens during the day can become a comfortable place to relax, entertain, cook, or simply enjoy the cooler evening air. The trick involves designing for nighttime…

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What Should You Do When Ground Cherries Fall Before Ripening?

What Should You Do When Ground Cherries Fall Before Ripening?

Ground cherries have one wonderfully strange harvest signal: they fall off the plant when they ripen. But when those little papery husks hit the soil while the fruit inside still looks green, the garden suddenly feels like it has changed the rules halfway through the game. The good news is that a few early drops…

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6 Crops That Can Be Blanched for Better Flavor

6 Crops That Can Be Blanched for Better Flavor

Blanching does more than prepare vegetables for the freezer. A quick dip in boiling water can soften harsh flavors, tame bitterness, loosen tough textures, and make certain garden vegetables taste noticeably more pleasant at the table. It sounds like a small cooking trick, but the difference can be surprisingly dramatic. The key lies in timing….

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