Of Volcano Mulching and Crape Murder

"In years to come, many beloved plants are likely to succumb to damage or disease as a result of volcano mulching, a practice that has spread through the country without resistance from nurserymen, who are supposed to know better." – Marlene A. Condon, Nature-Friendly Garden: Creating a Backyard Haven for Plants, Wildlife, and People. Stackpole Books, 2006.

‘Volcano mulching’: what a fitting term. You have seen it: mulch piled high against the trunk of trees. Presumably the idea is that if a little mulch is good, more is better. Not so. Mulch can make mowing easier, suppress weeds, and conserve water. But it should be put around the tree in a ‘donut’ shape so there is space between the mulch and trunk. Otherwise insects will have a field day and the bark under the mulch will rot. And if there is so much mulch that the tree roots grow up into the mulch, they will dry out when the mulch dries out.

Several years ago I took the Master Gardner class. This is a course offered by the Clemson Extension Service and run by MGAP (Master Gardeners of the Piedmont).One thing we learned is that too often the ‘professionals’, aren’t. It pays to know something about horticulture if you are hiring someone to do work, and if you find someone who knows what they are doing, be good to them.

We also learned about ‘crape murder’. ‘Crape murder’ occurs when the multiple stems of crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) are chopped off at a uniform height, a practice also known as ‘hat-racking’. This is also known as ‘pruning’ in some circles. The new growth appears at the top of the resulting sticks and the natural shape of the plant is destroyed.

Crape myrtles come in many colors, and various cultivars have interesting bark patterns and beautiful fall foliage. They also come in a variety of sizes, from hanging basket plants to 30-foot trees. The key, obviously, is to plant the variety that fits your site so you will not have to prune severely to keep it the height you want.

The Master Gardener course is a rigorous 13-week program which covers from soil science to plant identification to landscaping. Its purpose is to educate homeowners and create a pool of knowledgeable volunteers to help with Extension Service and community programs. There are programs like this all over the country, and each program focuses on regional practices.  (I never saw a crape myrtle until I moved to South Carolina. We grew lilacs up in Pennsylvania, which don’t grow down here.)

I get a lot of pleasure from working in my yard. I have a vegetable garden but I also have eliminated about half of the lawn and created what could euphemistically be called perennial borders. I also have planted a variety of trees and shrubs over the years. I am no longer able to spend as much time outside as I would like to, so I have had to cut back and sometimes just let things go. Mostly I have tried to use low-maintenance plantings and techniques. It has been a challenge to try new things.