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Article: Apply mulch around perennials after freeze.(Home & Garden)(Ask a master gardener)
- Article from:
- Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)
- Article date:
- December 28, 2003
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Paddock Publications. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Q. I noticed my neighbor applying mulch to many of the perennials in his garden. I remember reading somewhere that you should not apply mulch too early. Is that true? Why?
A. You are correct. Mulches should be placed on perennials after the ground freezes and remains frozen. This occurs when nighttime temperatures drop to the teens for several nights in a row.
Many people incorrectly think that mulch keeps the ground and plants warm. The purpose of mulch is to insulate the soil and keep the ground evenly frozen until the final spring thaw. Mulch also keeps the plants from drying out by winter winds.
In the Chicago area we often have repeated ...