Photo courtesy of Flickr user rfduck

Protect your plants from harsh weather when they’re dormant with winter mulching. Mulching in the colder months – when temperatures drop below 20 degrees – helps insulate plants from rapid freezing and thawing, which can cause shallow bulbs to come out of the ground.

Materials such as bark, compost, pine needles, straw and hay are all top mulch picks. Spread a layer about 2 to 3 inches thick over plants.

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Just be sure to pull back the mulch when the weather turns warmer or you see any new growth.