Fall is a great time of year to do landscaping because it is a good time for planting just about anything.
Plants go into a sort of dormant state during the winter, so planting something during the fall allows it to adjust to soil and other conditions, as well as begin to store up water and nutrients to help it survive the warmer, dryer summer months.
In autumn trees come into prominence, showing off rich golds, purples, and reds. Closer to the ground, skillful gardeners keep the color coming with rich red pine mulches and well-selected shrubs and perennials. Better Homes and Gardens magazine suggests for more color from annuals you can plant cool-season types of plants, such as snapdragons and pansies, which keep going even after frost. Ornamental grasses are also at their most gorgeous now, especially when backlit by the slanting golden light of an autumn afternoon.
Ideally perennial garden beds should also be cleaned up and mulched as part of your yard work in fall gardens. Removing old stalks and leaves means you'll be one step ahead come spring. Pine mulch is an excellent mulch to use. Just remember to leave an inch or two of space around the stems of plants and trunks of trees to allow the plants to breathe and avoid problems down the road.
In fall mulching with pine straw has an important purpose since temperatures in the late fall to winter months can change radically. The ground heaves as it freezes and thaws, forcing the root systems of many delicate plants up from the soil and exposing them to the elements. Nearly all plants are much healthier when they have a layer of pine needle mulch spread over their roots.
Many people make the mistake of using a less reliable fall mulch such as hay in their garden. Hay is not a good alternative to pine straw since hay often carries seeds that may eventually sprout and cause weed problems in your garden bed in the spring. Pine straw comes from several different species of pine trees that drop their pine needles or "straw" naturally throughout the year. Once the pine needle drops to the ground, it is cleaned and baled, without ever cutting down a single tree. Since it is produced naturally, pine straw sometimes is referred to as the "guilt-free" mulch.
You can get the best pine straw and even buy pine straw truckloads of wholesale mulch by requesting a quote or by calling us at (386) 454-1395.
FAQs
Tips to Lay Mulch in the Fall
Is it worth mulching in the fall? ›
The advantages of laying mulch in the fall are plentiful: It insulates the soil to help plants make it through our harsh winters. Plant roots and bulbs react less to temperature swings that happen during winter. Putting down mulch during the cooler fall months is a lot easier than doing it in hotter weather.
Can I put mulch down in August? ›
Any time is a good time to mulch your beds, even though there are different benefits at different times of year, mulching is a wonderful assistance to plants and soil all year round.
Should I put mulched leaves in my garden in the fall? ›
Temperatures are dropping and so are leaves. This fall when you remove leaves from your lawn, save them to reuse in other areas of your yard. Reusing fall leaves as mulch is one of the most natural things a gardener can do. It benefits plants, reduces landfill waste and best of all, it's free!
Should you mulch before winter? ›
The best time to apply winter mulch is after several hard touches of frost, which may be as late as November or December in the South. By this time, the plants have developed cold hardiness and the ground has frozen. Use organic mulch such as straw, shredded leaves, nut hulls, pine needles, or wood chips.
Is October too late to mulch? ›
Just make sure to remove the weeds before you lay down mulch. While mulching in early fall is safe, you should never mulch during late fall. "This can insulate the ground and prevent plant dormancy," says Morrell. The much-needed hibernation helps plants survive the cold winter months.
What month should you mulch in the fall? ›
Insulate your plants with mulch–especially if you added lots of newbies to your garden this year. Just be sure to wait after there have been a few freezes. Around Thanksgiving is a great time.
Is it OK to mulch in September? ›
In a lot of areas, autumn is a time of drier air and more drastic shifts in temperature than in the summer growing season. If you have perennials or cool weather annuals, laying down a good, thick layer of mulch is highly advisable if you want them to stay healthy in the fall and survive the winter.
What should I put down before mulching? ›
Again, you can use a garden hoe or hand weeder or follow the instructions for using a weed killer. If you're mulching around a tree, you can remove the grass or simply put down a layer of black-and-white newspaper, thoroughly water it down and then cover it with your mulch. Add mulch to a depth of 2 to 4 inches.
Will perennials grow through mulch? ›
Most perennials will pop through the mulch in spring. If the plants are young, small, or newly planted in fall, you may need to clear some of the mulch in spring so that the plants can emerge without difficulty through the winter protection.
A lot of people think of raking leaves as a chore and a nuisance, but in reality, dead leaves are a fantastic mulch source.
Is fall too late to mulch? ›
But you can apply fall mulch just like you do in spring, adding enough to refresh what's broken down. Many landscaping professionals actually practice — and prefer — fall mulching. Fall mulch works like spring mulch to retain soil moisture, suppress weed growth and protect bare soil from erosion.
Can you mulch too many leaves? ›
When you're done mulching, you must be able to see grass. Too much leaf litter left on top of your lawn can cause damage. If there is too much leaf clutter, then reattach your grass clippings bag and make another pass to collect some of the top shreds.
What mulch to use for winterizing garden? ›
Straw or hay is an excellent choice for winter mulching. It provides insulation, prevents frost heaving, and is less likely to harbor rodents compared to more densely packed mulches.
What kind of mulch is best for perennials? ›
Cedar and eucalyptus mulches are particularly well-suited for water retention and for keeping pests away from your perennials. We recommend aged hardwood mulch, applied in a light layer, around your flower beds. Well-aged wood mulch is an ideal choice for flower beds, as it adds nutrients to the soil as it decomposes.
Can flowers grow through mulch? ›
You may be able to plant annuals, such as petunias, begonias, or marigolds, directly in the mulch. Annuals only live a single growing season, so you don't have to worry about maintaining the plant for its long lifespan. However, the plants will require water frequently, as moisture drains through mulch very quickly.
Which is the main disadvantage of mulching? ›
Even though using mulch has many benefits, in some cases, it can prove to be detrimental to your lawn or garden: Excessive mulch that is a layer more than 3 inches deep can suffocate and bury plants. In this case, oxygen and water are unable to reach the roots. A layer of 2 to 3 inches of mulch is enough.
Is it better to mulch or not to mulch? ›
Mulch is attractive and benefits the garden by reducing the loss of soil moisture, moderating soil temperatures and inhibiting weed growth. And, if organic mulch is used, it will improve the soil structure and add nutrients as it decomposes. So, mulch!
Should you remove mulch every year? ›
Mulch gradually breaks down, adding beneficial nutrients and other organic matter to the soil. Removing pre-existing mulch every year only ends up to be extra work and a needless expense.
Should you mulch new trees in the fall? ›
Care of Your Trees After Planting
The two most important things you can do after planting trees in fall are watering and mulching.
