Gardeners who carefully mulch their young apple trees for winter protection often unwittingly create a five-star shelter for voles. By March, the bark at the base of the trunk may be completely stripped away—but the mulch itself isn’t the villain. The real culprit is where and how it’s piled.
Grass clippings seem like the perfect tomato mulch—until you find the stem rotting at the base. The culprit isn’t disease; it’s how the mulch is applied. Learn why thicker isn’t better and the simple technique that saves your plants.
That thick mulch you spread to protect your irises might be the reason they stopped blooming. Iris rhizomes need sun exposure and heat to flower, and buried rhizomes lead to rot and barren plants. Here’s exactly how to fix the problem and keep your irises blooming beautifully.