This is the time of year to begin applying a fresh layer of mulch to your plants. Grab a bag of aged compost as you pass by your local hardware store and spread a couple inches around your hardwood perennials, roses and other flowering shrubs, herbs and trees. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the plants themselves creating a doughnut like space between the plant and mulch.

Doing a little bit at a time is less strenuous than hauling lots of bags of mulch or compost and trying to do it all in a day...or weekend. Choose one area and begin there with the goal of completing by Thanksgiving or whenever cold weather tends to begin in your area.

Organic (shredded bark mulch, aged compost, aged manure mix, etc) mulch around plants keeps them safer during winter. The cover helps to limit temperature fluctuations in the upper level of soil which protect your plants when temperatures above ground change. Plus it decomposes over winter and early spring increasing the nutrients that will help your plants grow.