Fall mulching prepares gardens for spring growth
RICKY THOMPSON

Ricky Thompson is the Jasper County Extension Agent - Ag, 384-3721.

The single most timesaving practice for any gardener is using mulch around garden plants. Mulching goes hand in hand with planting in fall or any other time of year. You can buy various types of mulch or use leaves (chopped, shredded, or composted) or other garden material you already have.

Mulch performs several functions. A layer of mulch at least three inches thick produces a barrier to weeds.

Most weed seeds in the ground do not have enough light and air to grow through the mulch and the ground is protected from weed seeds dropped by birds or animals.

An organic mulch, such as bark nuggets, shredded bark or wood, chopped leaves, pine needles, leaf mold (composted leaves), or cocoa hulls, conserves water. Water the plant surrounding soil well, add the mulch, and then water again.

Take care to keep the mulch an inch from the plant stem or you risk suffocating it. The mulch prevents moisture evaporation from the ground, especially in the heat of summer. Using organic mulch has an added bonus; as the mulch decomposes, nutrients enrich the soil.

Mulching is even more important at this time of year as the weather changes and the temperatures drop.

A three to six inch layer of organic mulch helps maintain soil temperature in areas where the ground freezes. Lack of winter mulch leads to the death of many perennials and small shrubs as the roots are exposed to freezing air and the plant dies.

In cold winter regions such as the Panhandle, they wait to add winter mulch until the ground has frozen. If you mulch too early in the fall, the mulch will keep the soil at above - freezing temperatures and encourage the plant to keep growing. Unfortunately, the tender new growth is susceptible to the cold air temperature and is likely to be killed. Normally, as the temperatures fall, plants go into dormancy, which prevents most dieback.