I'm just a little bit warmer than you, Iowa zone 4/5. I mulch mid to late
November with leaves. I've used both shredded and unshredded. I rake them
off in April when the ground starts to warm up. If I don't get them off soon
enough my first spring bulbs look like celery, blanched. I've never had any
problems with mold/mildew.

I too grow mostly hardy perennials. From what I've read, the biggest reason
to mulch is to keep your ground at more of an even temperature, to protect
the plants from heaving as the ground freezes and thaws.

Personally I wouldn't recommend oat straw unless it's sat outdoors at least
a year. Enough oats cling to the straw that you have all kinds of volunteer
"grass".

Carlotta

"mmarteen" wrote in message
...
I am a member of the hort. society (now) and have been to the landscape
arboretum, both great institutions. I tend to grow only hardy perennials
and stuff that reseeds really well. But even hardy perennials are defined
as "hardy" based on the supposition of snow cover, I think.

December probably is too late. I guess I am worried about mulching stuff
too early--we've also had heat waves in October, with temps in the 70s.
Wouldn't that generate a mildew problem? Maybe stacking and unstacking,
as
was suggested is a good solution.

mm
"Kay Lancaster" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 23 Jan 2003 10:33:47 -0600, mmarteen
wrote:
I am technically in zone 4a, Minneapolis, MN USA but this winter has
been
very odd. In fact, of the 7 winters I have endured in this fair city
each
has been fairly unique. 3 winters had barely any snow. One was
extremely
mild, temperature wise and the other two had at least 2 weeks of
hideously
cold weather, with temps well below 0, and in the 20s and 30s below
with
windchill, so very cold and very windy.

Yes, all are absolutely typical.

I am wondering what I should do for the future in my new garden (we
are
moving this spring). Should I plan to mulch every year in Oct? Our
coldest
weather generally doesn't show itself until January. Could I wait
until
Dec. and mulch if the snow cover is too light or is this too risky?
What
do
other people do?

Me, myself, and I, I'd be over at the Minnesota Arboretum in Chanhassen,
soaking up as many classes on perennials and low-care plants for your
climate as possible. http://www.arboretum.umn.edu/ I'd also
be reading and rereading and planning from the plant lists in Leon
Snyder's
three books, Gardening in the Upper Midwest, Flowers for Northern
Gardens,
and Trees and Shrubs for Northern Gardens.
http://www.upress.umn.edu/Books/S/snyder_trees.html

Kay Lancaster who grew up on the cusp of 4A