Should you mulch before winter? What to do now for a better spring garden

Mulching improves the appearance of garden beds and patios, helps the soil retain moisture, and acts as an insulator. While it’s a good idea Mulch areas year roundShould you even add mulch before winter? Here’s why a master gardener should let you spend days like this.

Why mulch before winter?

You should mulch your beds, trees and bushes before winter. There are a few exceptions, but generally adding mulch before winter is a safe bet, says master gardener David Angelov.

The mulch will help control the incoming temperature drop, stabilizing it against the cold.

“A layer of mulch can help raise soil temperatures by 2 to 3F°,” says Angelov. “It’s also great for the beauty of the soil.”

can also mulch prevent or delay the spread of frostFrost heaving occurs when soil repeatedly expands and contracts due to freezing and thawing. Frost can be dangerous to plants, especially perennials, as it damages the soil and breaks the roots.

How to mulch before winter

Best way to add mulch Angelov says one has to start with an assessment. A garden assessment can be done by a consultant or DIY gardener, and includes assessing the soil type, plants, climate and needs.

1. make the bed: Clear the beds by cutting off dead or damaged leaves or branches. Pinch off bad leaves. Finish by sifting the soil.
2. choose a mulch: Choose the type of mulch, whether organic or inorganic. Organic mulch will decompose and add nutrients to the soil, while inorganic mulch will last longer but will not leach into the soil.
3. Calculate Mulch Required: with mulch calculatorEstimate the amount and Mulch Cost,
4. transport mulch: Take bags of mulch to the site in a wagon or wheelbarrow.
5. apply mulch: Spread the mulch evenly around the beds with a shovel. Keep the mulch several inches away from the plants.
6. check depth:Apply mulch to about 3 inches. Add mulch as needed, keeping in mind that mulch will compact over time.

When mulching is not required

There are some situations when you shouldn’t mulch beds or bushes, Angelov says. However, some exceptions and precautions:

• clean the bed: You’ll want to make sure to clean the beds thoroughly before laying down the mulch.
• free the leaves: Avoid trapping leaves, limbs or other living parts of plants under the mulch.
• Not for vegetable gardens: in winter, a botanical garden Should not be covered with traditional pine or bark mulch. Instead, it should be left as is.

Tips for Mulching

For the best mulching before winter, use these tips:

Use quality mulch

Be sure to use real bark mulch, says Angelov. Most bagged commodity mulches consist of glued chaff and wood. There are impurities in that wet grass. The best type of mulch to use is 5-percent hemlock mulch, which has a stable and rich color. It also breaks up better instead of leaving larger logs behind.

buy in bulk

Buy Mulch in Bulk Instead of bags whenever possible. Bulk mulch is less expensive than bagged mulch and does not create as much plastic waste as throwaway bags. It’s also helpful if you can go to a nursery and see the mulch before you buy it.

Add a layer of evergreen branches

Adding evergreen boughs is an excellent way to add 2 to 3 F° of protection to the soil – in addition to the 2 to 3 F° already added by the bark mulch.

“These can be evergreen branches or you can purchase evergreen branches,” says Angelov. “You then layer the branches over the bark mulch and glue them together. This method captures moisture beautifully.”

Try River Rock

A good way to add mulch is to place river rock on top of the weed barrier. It lasts longer than using purely bark mulch, although it does require some touchups and re-application. The downside of rock mulch is that it limits flexibility in the garden.

touch up

Be sure to reapply bark mulch once a year. In winter, if the mulch becomes blown or washed away there should be no need to reapply it except for the occasional touch up.