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To mulch or not to mulch?

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Juliet (U2196646) on Friday, 25th November 2005

  I got my potentillas trimmed on Wednesday, it rained yesterday, I went out to do the berberises today & before I could get the secateurs out it started snowing on me! Grr - not finished this year's gardening yet!
  
  I've also just ordered a big bag of woodchip to top up the woodchip mulch we put down a few years ago which has partially disappeared into the soil ... and now I don't know whether or not I should put it down when it arrives or leave it until it's warmer? What do you think? - will it help prevent the earth getting any colder (snow hasn't settled - yet - but it's blooming freezing out there), or will putting it down now mean I'm just sealing in the cold, as it were?
  
  And while I'm here, does anyone know if it's OK to repot things in this weather? - I need to get my parents' rose moved from the pot it came in to the planter I bought for it before their anniversary in December!

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by hereisabee (U2342191) on Saturday, 26th November 2005

  The benefits of mulching are suppression of weeds and retention of moisture, neither of which are a problem in cold wether the so the answer is to wait. Again with re-potting whats the hurry?

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by Juliet (U2196646) on Saturday, 26th November 2005

  Hi uncletom,
  
  I know the general reasons for mulching, but my reason for wanting to mulch in the autumn (as opposed to the spring) was to keep the heat in the soil!!! - I'm also planning to sell my house in the spring (sorry, regular users of the board know that, but perhaps I should have mentioned it again) so I really want to get the mulching done asap. The question I'm asking is not whether it's better in general terms to mulch now or later but whether it will be harmful to my plants if I do it now as the soil's already so cold.
  
  The repotting HAS to be done in the next month - I need to repot a rose I bought for my parents' anniversary, which is in December, so there is a big hurry! Just wanted to know whether this is likely to damage the rose as the soil in its pot is very cold.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by William (U2169036) on Saturday, 26th November 2005

  I really don't think it will trap heat or cold for any long period. If you think it looks ok mulch now.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by beejay (U2219592) on Saturday, 26th November 2005

  Juliet, there will be no harm mulching now. It will not cause any problems for plants. If anything it may trap air & be warmer. It is often easier to mulch this time of year especially if there are bulbs growing. One reason for NOT doing it now is that nutrients are leached out but with bark that will not be a problem. As for the re-potting, again I can't really see a problem. You can plant at any time of year - it's basically the same thing. Just treat it sensibly.

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by Juliet (U2196646) on Wednesday, 30th November 2005

  Sorry, meant to come back here & say thanks for your reassurance earlier - been rather busy & forgot about it . I normally do things like mulching & planting things at this time of year - was only concerned because of the rather early snow! Thankfully we haven't had any since & I've got the berberis trimmed & the woodchip has arrived & I've put some of it around the front beds - rest is in the garage waiting for a dry day (or four) so I can put it round the ones in the back.

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