Why a horticulturist says you should avoid planting tree rings

When trees mature and get shady, the area underneath them becomes bare. Since bare spots aren't often tolerated in landscaping, many people fill the void by building a ring around the tree and adding flowers or other plants. It may look nice, but you're ultimately shortening the life of the tree.

Extension Horticulture Agent Dennis Patton at Kansas State University says if you really love your tree, don't plant anything around it.

"As you get in there and dig the soil, you damage the roots, which then leads to a place where rot and decay can get into a tree root and shorten the life of the tree," says Patton. "The other issue with people that put the little borders of rock and stone around the trunk of the tree is when you add soil around the trunk of the tree, you put moisture against the bark which can lead to rot and decay."

It's a common misconception that tree roots are deep in the ground. In reality, most are close to the surface. A tree ring piled with soil over a large enough area can cover up the root system, upsetting the oxygen exchange that the tree needs to be healthy.

Patton says if you're determined to plant something around the tree, put in perennials such as hosta so you only have to dig once. If you just want to cover bare ground where the grass doesn't grow, put down some mulch, establish a ground cover, or try something temporary.

"If you want some flower color under there, you might want to consider using containers," says Patton. "Put a couple of containers of flowers out there, or maybe a little statuary or something like that that's on top of the ground. How about putting a chair and a little bench out there, and create like a little room, a little vista?"

If you already have a tree ring, check around the trunk for decay and remove the ring if needed.