when do you put mulch into a garden? Do you put it in before the winter?

Question

I live in new york and wanted to know when do I put down mulch into my garden.

Answer 1

You can mulch any time you want. It is good to mulch before cold weather if you have bulbs or perennials. If you are using wood chips from a tree surgeon, be certain that they are decomposed before you put them on the plants. The chips put out a lot of heat when they are breaking down, so you will want to wait 3 or 4 months before putting them around your plants. Straw and leaves are OK when they are bought or raked. Mulch adds much to the soil and protects plants from cold weather.

Answer 2

Well, mulch is good any time of year, but it's especially important to put down a layer before the weather gets cold. It serves as insulation, keeping the roots of plants from getting exposed to large temperature fluctuations, and protecting them somewhat from the ravages of winter weather. During the spring and summer months, mulch is just as important, because it is an additional layer that helps retain water in the soil, so you don't have to water as much or as often. And since (typically) it's plain old organic material, as it degrades over time, it slowly releases nutrients into the soil as well, reducing the amount of artificial fertilizers that you need to add. So, yes, please do put down some mulch now, and check it in the springtime to see if you need to add more (if you've got bulbs, you might want to wait until greenery pokes up above the surface before adding any more -- you don't want to bury them too deeply and prevent them from coming up.

Answer 3

No matter where you live you need to keep the planting beds mulched all yr. long. Keep mulch down all the time-winter to help keep the roots warmer and summer to keep the plants cooler. Put it out any time you have access to the mulch. Now is really important since your coldest weather is approaching.

Answer 4

You can get free mulch from most cities.
The greatest benefit is that local mulch has local bacteria and will break down at usually 1 inch per year.
Your soil and plants will get a good slow feeding all year.
3 to 4 inches works great.
I live in Dallas and have yet to pull one weed from my beds since I made them in 2001.

Answer 5

If you didn't use it during the growing season you need to wait for a hard frost.

If you put it down now then field mice will think you just built them a condo with built in vegetarian meals. After the frost they are not looking for a home anymore. Then it is safe to put it around the plants to protect them from frost heaves and to act as insulation.

Answer 6

as noted mulch is good anytime of year.. but.. if you get freezing weather in the winter, it is really better to get that mulch down before the freeze..

Answer 7

I would plow it in, in the fall. If you can get it the best thing to plow in is chicken manure with saw dust.

Answer 8

It don't matter when you put in down.