On Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:55:57 +0100, Mitulove
wrote:


Hello,
I've lived in Scotland for four years, but this is my first autumn
having a garden. I'm having some trouble finding answers to some of my
questions with google.

The first has to do with mulching. I've got a big bag of Strulch to
use. What I don't know is when to put it down. I've put in lots of
bulbs and a couple raspberry canes, and there are already lots of
established shrubs. From what I can glean from the internet, the time
to mulch bulbs is in the fall. Some sites say to leave it until just
before freezing temperatures. I live in inland Fife, and I have no
idea when to expect a hard freeze.

I'm also unsure how deep to mulch. Will mulching deeply affect how
well the birds can find food in the ground?

Many thanks for any advice you can offer


For many plants mulch at any time, but there are exceptions. I have
roses which I mulch heavily in late November with shredded leaves and
remove the mulch in early February (we have a short winter) to expose
the crown. The first freeze in your area won't freeze the ground, but
you can use the "first frost date" for your area to mulch plants
needing winter protection. I use 1 to 4 inches of mulch, depending on
the plant and specific location. It is not a good idea to mulch
against tree trunks, yet I see this done in many places by
"landscapers." Mulch will limit what the birds can find, but I've
seen them digging through the mulch and under leaves too.