Re: mulching shrubs for winter was: hydrangeas and zones

Anelle,

Any organic matter that absorbs water can rot woody plant stems if
piled up against them.  In your zone, you should not have to worry
about applying extra mulch to shrubs and trees for winter...just
allow the fallen leaves to lie on the ground around them until
spring...that's what nature does.  Even better, chop fallen leaves
with the lawn mower and use them as mulch, but keep the mulch at
least 6" away from the stems.  Can really only simply not touch them,
but if you get it too close, there is the danger that winds and
critters will move it right up on the stem.  I think a foot away is a
tad excessive, esp. for a small plant, myself.

In zone 7, mulch simply stops the soil from getting surface compacted
around shrubs and trees; mulching perennials is a different matter.
Soil doesn't generally freeze that deep that it would damage
established woody plant roots.  New fall plantings would benefit more
since the roots are not established and a mulch applied after the
ground freezes would help stop heaving due to freeze - thaw cycles.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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----------
> From: Anelle Kloski <akloski@JPS.NET>
> Date: Thursday, July 06, 2000 9:45 PM
>
> We went around putting compost around our shrubs last fall, and
this
> spring we lost a small Japanese maple and the nurseryman said it
had
> been covered up with mulch on the stem, and that was the reason for
its
> not making it.  (Probably we didnt spot that the mulch on it needed
to
> be removed, but it was only about 6 in. up the stem;  we removed
the
> mulch from our other shrubs, and skipped this one.  The nurseryman
said
> to put the mulch out a foot away from the stem.  Thinking ahead to
the
> fall, would mulch that far away protect a small plant?  We are in
Zone
> 7.
>
> Anelle
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