winter mulch Protects delicate plants from cold damage And enhances plant health by improving soil structure, promoting water retention and suppressing weeds. However, mulch needs to be applied at the right time and in the right way for maximum benefits – and some plants should not be mulched at all! If you’re ready to master the art of winter mulching.
This guide will walk you through the basics of when and how to mulch flower beds in winter and help you avoid common mulching mistakes.
meet the expert
When should you apply winter mulch?
Determining the right time for your winter mulch application can help you Avoid damaged roots And flower buds, and it can also extend your growing season. But exactly when to apply mulch depends on the type of plants you’re growing and your growing zone.
annual
Since annual plants are generally more sensitive to cold than perennials, it makes sense to thaw them a little earlier. For the most part, the best time to mulch annual plants is when the weather starts to cool and before the first frost.
Evergreen
Mulching perennials too early can prevent the plants from going into winter dormancy and increase the susceptibility to cold damage. To avoid this, cover perennial plants with mulch when they die back after the first freeze.
vegetables
Some? cold hardy vegetables Can be grown during winter in mild climates, but they are more likely to survive with some mulch. For best results, treat plants like beets, carrots and radishes like annuals and mulch them when the weather starts to cool.
trees and bushes
Like perennial plants, trees and shrubs should be mulched after the first frost. Mulching these plants too early may attract rodents and increase the likelihood of rot.
Want more gardening tips? Sign up our free gardening newspaper For our best-growing tips, troubleshooting hacks and more!
5 benefits of winter mulching
Alan Mitchell, head gardener at Dr Neill’s Gardens in Edinburgh, Scotland, explains how winter mulching is useful in many ways.
“It suppresses weeds, conserves moisture, helps plants cope with extreme temperatures, and is especially beneficial for establishing young trees,” says Mitchell.
Adding organic matter to the soil will help maintain fertility and moisture, Mitchell says. Clearly, winter mulching has many benefits and helps plants in many ways. But as Mitchell explains, some of the main reasons why you might want to add winter mulch include:
- plant Protection. Winter mulch is especially helpful for plants at the edge of their hardiness zone, as well as new plants. This protects tender stems and shoots from frost damage and reduces frost freezing, which can damage roots and uproot shallow plants.
- soil improvement. Mulch adds organic matter to the soil as it breaks up, but mulching also improves water retention, stabilizes soil temperature and prevents erosion.
- Weeds reduced. Weed growth slows in winter, but stronger weeds may accelerate growth during warmer weather. However, weeds have a much more difficult time infiltrating if you keep your soil covered with mulch.
- Less work in spring. Mulching in the winter can help you remove one item from your busy spring gardening to-do list.
- wildlife habitat. Natural mulch provides habitat for hibernating pollinators and other beneficial insects. Needless to say, mulching also increases the activity of earthworms and beneficial microbes.
Which plants should you not feed in winter?
Although mulch is beneficial for most plants, there are some plants you may want to avoid adding mulch to altogether. If you decide to mulch these plants, apply only a light layer of mulch around their roots.
- Rot sensitive plants. Mulch is well tolerated by plants that grow naturally in moist soil and shady locations, but it may not be the best choice for some plants that prefer dry soil. These include woody-stemmed herbs, such as lavender and creeping thyme, as well as salvia and veronica.
- Juicy. Succulents, like sedum, also prefer relatively dry soil and can rot under thick layers of mulch.
- Spring bulb. Many spring bulbs do not require mulch and heavy use of mulch may prevent them from germinating.
- Self seeding plants. If you want plants like coneflowers and black-eyed Susans to self-seed, avoid adding too much mulch. These plants readily self-sow if you allow them to, while mulching can limit their spread.
How much mulch do you need for winter?
Today, there are a variety of natural mulches to choose from. Wood and bark mulches, as well as pine straw, are always popular choices for ornamental beds, while compost and weed-free straw are commonly used in vegetable gardens.
How much mulch you need for your garden depends on how deep you want your mulch layer and the particle size of the mulch.
fine particle mulch
Compost, grass clippings, and other fine-grained mulches should be applied in layers 1 to 3 inches deep. Thick application of these mulches can cause condensation and cause drainage problems.
coarse particle mulch
Mulch made of straw, shredded autumn leaves, and other heavy items should be applied in layers 3 to 6 inches deep. Thin application of these mulches can cause weed seeds to germinate.
no matter what The type of mulch you want to useYou will need about 1/3 cubic yard of mulch to cover 100 square feet of gardening space with 1 inch of mulch. This means that if you want to apply 3 inches of straw mulch to a 100 square foot vegetable garden, you will need about 1 cubic yard of mulch.
