But it also accomplishes a few more things:
Fall mulch insulates plant roots. In coldest regions, soil may eventually freeze solid in the heart of winter, but in many areas, soil cycles through freezing and thawing all winter long. Those freeze-thaw patterns put stress on anything in the top few inches of soil, including plant roots. Mulch moderates the temperature swing.
Get Ahead of the Curve
Mulching, or adding a layer of insulating organic matter to the surface soil in your garden can certainly protect and beautify flower beds late spring.
Mulched flowers provide short term benefits such as providing warmth for those chilly October days while longer-term ones include increased nutrient availability through decomposition which creates ideal growing conditions all year long!
That is why, you should mulch your garden, and enrich and nourish the soil.
Preserve Perennials
Perennials are much more satisfying than annuals. They will come back year after year with the right treatment! Fall is a great time to give your perennials some TLC by adding mulch around their stalks and roots, which will protect them from frostbite when exposed in cooler temperatures during winter months.
A layer of finer organic material like leaf compost breaks down faster providing essential nutrients for plants all throughout these colder months.
Enrich Soil
Fall mulching provides organic matter that breaks down and releases minerals, leading to healthier shoots in spring. Mulch also warms soil for earthworms as well as microbes with food over winter months.
Mulching not only beautifies the garden but it also creates a stable ecosystem. The best mulches for different purposes are bark chips, straw and pine needles or shredded leaves depending on what you want in your landscape bedding!
Reduce Temperature Swings
Autumn can be a tough time for plants. The annual cycle of freezing and thawing puts incredible stress on roots, especially those that are closer to the surface like mulch-bound ones!
That’s why we recommend using organic matter as an insulator in order maintain strong health – it raises your soil temperature enough so you won’t have any issues with stressed out vegetation this fall season.
Discourage Weeds
Mulching is a great way to prevent weeds and even suffocate them. Simply spread out newspapers near your plants, then cover with wood chips or other materials that will be too heavy for the weed roots.
Note: Make sure you don’t use old newspapers (like those produced in the 90s). Newer papers use inks based on soy which are non-toxic, and we are not so sure about the older ones.
Recycle Leaves
Mulching is a great way to recycle leaves while adding nutrients and insulation for your garden beds.
Make sure the surface of each leaf you shred with your lawnmower or compost-prep machine has been well dried before spreading over soil in summer months, otherwise they may cause fungi problems later on down the line! Use wetter decomposed mulch as an additive, which will work best if, mixed by hand (unless otherwise instructed).
Dig deep using both hands’ strength; this helps break up compacted earth underneath so plants can take hold better at planting time.