Using Fall Leaves as Winter Mulch

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

18 Nov 2008 12:55 PM

Here is a great idea for using some of those fall leaves that are falling all over your yard. By creating winter mulch out of them, you'll protect your tender plants and bulbs, save money and feel better about having to do all of that fall leaf clean up!

Winter mulch can do a lot to protect and preserve your perennials from the harsh winter that is coming up soon. Many people believe that the winter mulch acts as a blanket, protecting the bulbs and plants from the cold. While it is true that it may offer some little protection from harsh winds, and the mulch may heat up a bit as it breaks down, the "blanket effect" is not really the way that winter mulch works to protect your investment. Instead, what winter mulch does is to prevent plants from waking up during the winter. It keeps the plants dormant throughout the winter so they remain in hibernation. This protects the perennials from damage.

So, to create your winter mulch, you'll once again have to shred or chop up those leaves before applying them over the top of your perennials. There are a couple of important things to know here about winter mulch.

The first thing to know is that the winter mulch must be applied at the right time. Since the goal is to keep the plants dormant, you should wait to apply the winter mulch until after the ground is cold and the plants are sure to be hibernating. Wait until you have had several hard freezes in your area. This is usually sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, depending on where you are.

Apply a layer of winter mulch (shredded leaves) that is about three to six inches thick.

If you missed my earlier posts about the fall leaves, you might want to go check them out!

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog and caring for little ones in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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