Let the snow melt on its own, and keep the mulch on. We're still going to have some cold nights that could potentially damage the new growth. If the temperature gets really mild during the day and if you have the time, rake off some of the mulch and then rake it back on in the evening.

It's tempting, isn't it? I'm sure everyone understands how a person can get so anxious to see new growth!

The snow and the mulch are your friends right now. With the drastic changes in temperature between night and day, it is one of the most critical times of the year for protection.

If you have any areas with hardy spring bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, crocuses, etc. you can take the mulch off those areas only as soon as the snow is melted. I would not shovel snow off. Depending what other perennials you have planted, you will have to judge when to take the mulch off, as late as native trees leafing out for real picky things like tender roses or marginally hardy perennials. Perhaps someone else will have a better idea for intermediate stuff. I know it's tempting to get things going early!! But I like to err on the side of caution. That mulch is like a warm quilt on the bed when the alarm clock is about to go off in the morning... aaah so comfy and warm. LOL.

You can cut down dried out stalks at any time as long as you're not uncovering anything.

Marcia I guess we posted at the same time. Good thing we are in agreement as usual! ;0)

My mom always left her mulch undisturbed until it was time to plant the annuals outside, then as she plants them she carefully works all the mulch in. Your bulbs new growth will work their way through the mulch without any help...if you can wait that long...my mom is a picture of patience...I do more like Marcia suggested...I like to uncover plants just to see what's emerging. ; )

As far as plants left intact...I do that a fair bit too...(I procrastinate) "No dear, I don't need to cut those back yet...I'm letting the bulbs absorb all the nutrients in the stems..." Then a month later, "No dear I'm not cutting those back now...are you crazy?? It's 30 below outside..." LOL ; ) If you're itching to get gardening (which I completely understand) you can go out and do the cleanup now (as long as you're sure what comes back from new growth vs. old growth) I wait until it's really nice out and then as new growth emerges at the bottom I cut/pull the dead stuff.

Verena

Yes, good thing, Gil! LOL No fights!

When the native trees start to unfurl their leaves is when I start to pull back the mulch from my tenders, making sure I recover if a hard frost is predicted ;)

Sharon

Kristal,

I feel your pain. In my opinion, this is the hardest time for gardeners. You start seeing growth, and you long to get your hands dirty, and the frost hasn't even heaved yet.

Take the advice of the seasoned pros on this forum. This is the time to practice patience. Let the garden be. You shouldn't really plant anything until after Mother's Day (which seems sooo far away), and you shouldn't really disturb your mulch until you are ready to plant again, in my opinion.

You're just going to have to busy yourself with other things. Spring clean up is good. Maybe think about hardscaping in April after the ground has dried out a little. You can put out Pansies in pots as soon as the end of April, and they should blend nicely with all of your bloomin' bulbs.

If you are an impatient gardener, do what a lot of these gardeners do and winter sow. It's a great way to jumpstart the garden and usually save money at the same time. I would love to do that myself, but barely have enough space and sunlight to overwinter a few tenders.

If you live within a decent driving distance, I would suggest a day trip to the Cities to visit the Arboretum in Chaska, or the Como Conservitory in St. Paul. I don't think it will help the urge to garden (will probably make it worse), but it's nice to see all that lush green and prolific blooms, when the outside is all dirty slush and brown, bare trees. Good Luck.

I would love to do that myself, but barely have enough space and sunlight to overwinter a few tenders.

Stumpie, where are you overwintering your tenders? Indoors, I hope. All of our wintersowing is going on outside right now. After last weekend, mine is under about a foot of snow but I cleared off another part of the deck so that I can do some more this weekend or early next week. If you have a place to plant the plants, you will have a space to winter sow outside.

Some of us also have an indoor light setup of some sort. Agreeably, that takes up room in the house.

Check out the FAQ section of the winter sowing forum and we'll see if we can convert a few more. Zones 1, 2, and 3 need all the help they can get in the annual "jugs count". lol

Shauna

Here is a link that might be useful: Wintersowing forum FAQ's

Oh, believe me, I've discovered Winter Sowing, that's why there's no place to walk on my deck. I've also got some seedlings going under a shop light in a bathtub we don't use. I'm just wondering what to do with the snow piles on the flower beds. Leave them be, I guess, is the concenses.

Sorry about the misuse of "Wintersowing". I think I meant starting seeds indoors to plant in the spring. Mia Copa. Will have to check out the Q & A on Wintersowing. Thanks for the heads up.