mulch and odd weather in upper midwest

> I'm wondering about removing mulch, or much of it,  this early in Z.5a...does
> anyone else in the midwest have concerns about this? The weather and the
> perennials say it's the end of April and we still could get some nasty
> weather...last April was warm and May was frigid. Any ideas?
> 
> Joanie
> 35 mi. north of Chicago, Z.5a (usually)

Joanie - thanks for the recommendation on when to prune the buddleias. 
I pruned one back earlier this week . . .just to sort of see how it
would go (it's a Black Knight which I know are a dime a dozen if I did
the wrong thing).  Only after I pruned, did I notice the growth at the
crown under the mulch (slapping my forehead).  I pulled the winter mulch
away from the base of all of them, and low and behold, they all made
it!  When it warms up a little, I prune them all.  (Even my *Sungold*
made it - it's only semi-hardy in this zone)

I like to pull the mulch away from the crowns - lets a little more
sunshine in.  I mulch with leaves and leave them (no pun intended) on
all year.  I just sort of pull them away from the crowns.  That way, if
a freeze sneaks up, I can cover everything relatively quickly again.

Pat 
pattm@execpc.com
Zone 5 - Northwest of Milwaukee

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