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About Winter Mulch

 
Spreading mulch over fall-planted flower bulbs is a good idea. However mulching isn’t advised for the reasons commonly thought. Most people we talk to think you mulch bulbs as soon as you plant to keep the soil warm so the bulbs won’t freeze over winter. Actually, mulch is applied later, once the ground gets colder, to keep the soil temperature consistently cool over-winter. The goal is to minimize damage from frost heaves and help retain moisture in the soil through the winter.
 

Plant bulbs approximately six weeks before local hard frosts typically start but wait until the cold weather is upon them to mulch their bulb beds. If you mulch too early, overly warm soil conditions can promote disease and mildew. Also, premature mulching invites mice, voles and other unwanted critters to nest in your bulb beds – poor you – and lucky them to find such warm cozy dens for the winter!

mouse in mulch

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