Mulching in Northern Gardens

Mulching has many benefits to plants and soil, from conserving moisture, encouraging earthworms to stopping mud splashing on leafy plants during rainstorms. Mulch also keeps the soil cool during the summer, this is not advantageous in the springtime to a northern gardener anxiously awaiting the soil warming up for the transplants. Early in the spring season rake the mulch back in the areas you plan to place warmth loving plants like tomatoes and beans for a week or two so the soil can warm in the sunshine. Once the transplants are tucked in the warm soil spread the mulch back and enjoy the new growing season.