Should you mulch in the fall or spring

Timing is everything when it comes to caring for your garden—a sentiment that's especially true for mulching. The task involves spreading mostly organic matter over the surface of your soil to protect it from weeds, improve moisture retention, prevent soil erosion, and provide insulation.

But adding mulch to your yard at the wrong time, be it too early or too late, can have unintended consequences.

Before tackling this chore, make sure you know when the right time to mulch your garden is—it's just as important as knowing how to mulch.

How to Mulch the Right Way

When to Mulch Your Garden

The right time to mulch a garden is dependent on what type of plant material you are mulching and the weather conditions.

Best time to mulch in northeast

In general, mid- to late-spring is mulching season; this is when the soil is warming up from the freezing temperatures it experienced all winter. Mulching too early will slow down the warming process, which the soil needs to do its job.

"Mulching during the early spring growing season reaps

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