What were you going to cover it with? Just wondering because I am new to garlic as well.

After planting garlic, it is usually covered with straw, pine needles, leaves, etc... Something to give it a little protection.

Andrea

Garlic is very hearty and a bit of snow will not hurt it. Garlic originated in much colder climates than yours. When the snow melts, cover them with 3-4" of a light mulch if possible, such as straw or very well chopped leaves. In March the garlic will resume growing right through the mulch.

TomNJ

actually, believe it or not, snow itself is a good cover. But what you can do in addition, is to throw some straw or leaves on top of snow.bare ground when freezin air blows is worse. snow is ok.

Snow is fine but you should shovel more over it or cover with some straw

Last year some of mine was lost to cold as the covering wasn't good so it started greening up on a spring thaw of course being Mn it dropped well below zreo soon afterwards..

At what point is it safe to take the winter mulch off the garlic, relative to the frost-free date? I assume it can take a frost, but don't know how much cold below that uncovered garlic will tolerate.

I never remove the mulch from my garlic. It is applied when I plant in November, and remains through harvest in July. Keeps the garlic warmer during winter, prevents weeds in spring and summer, and gets turned under as organic soil conditioner in fall. The garlic loves it.

TomNJ

I have garlics that were not mulched at all and survived many freezing nights of 14,15, 16..20F.
So if you think that it is not going to get colder than say 20F,
go ahead and remove the mulch so that the leaves are exposed. Leave the stems mulched for now.

I’m Also new to garlic planting so would it be harmful to the garlic to cover it with evergreen branches? I’m hacking down a juniper I think and thought why waste the branches....but don’t want to harm the garlic!

My understanding is that the mulching of garlic is to provide some insulation from frost heaving and not the cold temperatures. Constant freezing/thawing cycles can gradually force the bulbs upwards out of the soil ie frost heaving. +1 on cyrus' comments; I assume the snow is a great cover as it will prevent the freeze/thaw cycles. If the snow melts you can mulch.

If your garlic sprouts through/into the juniper branches, it may be incredibly hard to pull it off in the spring without damage to the garlic. Why not just use some shredded leaves from mowing the yard. I use this every year. If you don't have any, just grab someone else's at the curb/trash when they rake leaves. Go over it with your lawn mower if shredding is necessary.