The One Mulch Mistake That Almost Killed My Hydrangeas
I used to think mulch was always good. More mulch meant more moisture, better insulation, better everything.
So I piled it high around my hydrangeas — almost like a little mountain.
By midsummer, leaves drooped, stems softened, and the flowers turned brown way too early.
A neighbor who’s been gardening for 30 years took one look and said, “They’re drowning. And the stems are rotting.”
He explained mulch volcanoes:
When mulch touches the base of the plant, moisture stays trapped, stems soften, pests hide, and roots suffocate.
His fix was simple:
Pull mulch 3–4 inches away from the plant base
Keep only a thin, even layer
Add compost under the mulch, not over the roots
Let the crown dry out
Within weeks, the hydrangeas perked back up. New buds formed. Color returned.
Sometimes the problem isn’t too little care — it’s too much.
#Gardening #related
