Personally, I'd skip the mulch and wait, oh, about three weeks. At that point, rather like magic, a lot of evergreen branches will show up. They'll do a better job of protecting against temperature changes without trapping moisture.

BTW, I've never really bought the 'freeze-thaw is evil' theory. If it was half as bad as some people seem to think, Philadelphia would be a desert. There are places where freeze-thaw is a daily phenomenon, and they tend to be reasonably plant friendly.

My biggest concern with putting mulch on top of snow would be the likelihood of it creating stratas of ice, which could also be harmful to semi-evergreen perennials.

That being said, if you say a "light snow cover", I'm picturing only a inch or two, which shouldn't equate to much ice.

What about waiting for our usual mid-January thaw?

Otherwise, I would agree with mad gallica -- freeze-thaw is only an issue in my experience, with perennials that are planted too late in the autumn.

It IS an inch or two at most. My fear is that it is just going to get colder and colder, here on in.

I did take advantage of late plant sales: planting hostas, heuchera, astilbe, and dianthus in 3 batches between early October and the first week of November (what can I say...when the price dropped to $1 a gallon, I could not help myself!) At least I did better than last year...at least I got them PLANTED.

I could try to time it to a thaw, but considering when the sun sets, said thaw would have to be timed for a weekend!

Isn't a good snow cover as good as a mulch...?

Is two inches not considered "good" or does it need to be deeper?

I haven't put down my mulch either, but I'm waiting till later. Despite our snow, I don't think the ground is frozen and with my vole problem I want to make sure they are gone. I'm already worried that the snow has made them comfy and cozy underground...

Dee

Ah linnea56. I asked the same question last year. With just an inch or two snow I went ahead and put down my leaf mulch last year. I did find hidden ice bergs under the more shaded areas in the Spring when I went out to thin the mulch.

I should have known better this year and gone out weekend before last, but I didn't and last week we got 6"+ of snow. That's too much, I think, to top with mulch. I'll if it is still Winter when the snow melts and try again.

Elleni

You say you think it's going to get colder and colder from here on in -- so then what's the point of the mulch at this time? If it's only going to get colder, there will not be freeze-thaw cycles, and if there are, they will be minimal. Also agree with Mad Gallica's post.

I would not spread the mulch now - I think you're inviting trouble. Just relax and enjoy the quiet beauty of winter and use some evergreen boughs/trimmings if they become available, as M.G. mentioned :0)

its late enough in z5 ....

just how cold do you want it to be while you are out there working.. lol ....

frost is in the soil in my z5 soil ... due east of you a couple hundred miles ...

i wouldnt want to be out there in jan ...

besides.. if we get some minor warming .... it will keep the soil cold... get them dormant.. keep them dormant.. eh????

ken

i wouldnt want to be out there in jan

Exactly. I DONÂT want to be out there in Jan. This year I actually got the bulbs planted by early November, which is amazing for me. It will be sunny today and I think the snow will be gone soon, though it will not top 25 degrees. If I test the soil and find it hard, then IÂm good to go?

Evergreens would be nice, though most people seem to use artificial trees around here. If I donÂt see one within dragging distance, IÂm not doing it.

Another question: DonÂt the fallen needles make working in the garden difficult in the next year? I have one small garden under a long-needled pine and I am always stabbing myself.

JUST DO IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AS TO NEEDLES ... oops .... as they age on the ground.. they tend to become tender .... only picea pungens.. blue spruce might still be picky next season ...

frankly .. all naturally shedded stuff is free mulch for the winter.. if you dont like it next spring.. remove it then .... in other words.... it would be something i cleaned next spring.. not in fall ...

i never understood... after way too many years.. why one would clean away the free mulch.. to add purchased mulch.. whats that all about???

ken

you are really taking this ... NOT TOO EARLY THING .... way to the opposite extreme...

a few more days.. and your mulch is going to be frozen solid for crying out loud.. what then.. throw it in the dryer to thaw it .. so you can throw it outdoors to refreeze ...

you have gone past too early .. past just right .... into nearly too late.. if you wait much longer ....

rotflmbo ...

ken

Today's the day!

I haven't put any mulch down at all. Is it important? Am I showing my stupidity? I live in the frozen midwest (Chicago suburb) and it freezes/thaws frequently. Miriam

no Miriam ....

THE ONLY STUPID QUESTION.. IS THE UNASKED QUESTION ....

if you have any losses next spring... trigger this brain cell and ask about how providing mulch the prior fall.. might have prevented the loss ...

if you have no losses ... then you dont need mulch for 'winter protection' ...

however.. mulch as a soil amendment is ALWAYS a plus .. and most of us.. HARVEST the fall bounty of falling leaves.. shred them.. and do both ... provide a winter snug's .. and summer soil amendment ...

ken

I put sphagnum moss over my beds 2 weeks ago, a good inch of it probably. I don't know if that would be bad for the plants because it does trap moisture. Does anyone know if what I did was a bad idea?

thanks, Ken, that's very useful and easy to remember--check my losses this spring to determine if mulch was needed this winter. I put mulch down early last spring--maybe that WAS a good idea. I don't have any friends or neighbors who garden so all of the advice I've gotten has been from basic books I got from the local library--that is, until I found GardenWeb. This site has been wonderful for hands-on advice. Miriam

In my part of the world, putting down heavy mulch in the fall seems to be a bad idea because of vole activity. However, it seems the midwest has considerably more trouble with rabbits than voles. Most of the rabbits I see are ex-rabbits, and it's quite amazing how fast those disappear.

mad gallica -- I'd be happy to send you all of my midwestern voles -- they are abundant here. Not too many rabbits (cottontails) these days, they go in cycles and seem to be at the low end of it right now. There are always some, but not as many as a few years ago. Disease perhaps, or maybe all of the redtail hawks I see around here.