Mulching now?

We have bought some bags of bark and intend to mulch our beds, to keep the weeds down, keep the moisture in, and help the beds look good.

But when I told my dad he muttered something about waiting until the soil warms up?!

Is he just being a silly wotsit, or does he know something I don't?

We've had a couple of days of lovely rain, so I reckon it's a good time to cover up.

If anyone can give me advice I'd be grateful.

 

I think maybe my dad is a green fingered gardener who doesn't really research anything much, but has just learned through experience. He never mulches, so I'm not sure he knew what I was talking about. My dad, bless him, is like the country bumpkins in The Two Ronnies!

Thank you for your advice, I will confidently mulch on!

 

You bet - dahlias 8ft high!

 

Its something that has always been said, as far as I know, always wait for the ground to warm up in spring before applying a mulch.
How true it is, I dont know, but bearing in mind what Marley says regarding insulation from winter frosts its likely to be true.
Insulation works both ways and keeps things cold as well as warm.
So apply when the ground is cold and you will keep it cooler.

Makes sense to me.

I'll bet we have another good couple of months of rain to come before we need to start worrying about soil moisture.

 

I seem to remember it was something Geoff Hamilton always used to say each year, but I think its also been quoted elsewhere.
Up until a week ago the daytime Max temps have struggled to get above 4C here.

True, we have had a week of warmth.

I've never kept a check on soil temps, but I'm willing to bet its a lot lower here than its been for years.

It also worth mentioning VP, that a s far as weeds are concerned, it will only work on annual weeds, any perennial ones will soon break through.

 

So am I Marley, straining at the leash, just wondering why it can be fine all week and only rain at weekends.

What "edge" are you actually under?:lollol:

 

Would you get annoyed if I told you I had Monday and Tuesday (the two best days weatherwise) off this week?

After two days of rain here, the garden is back looking like a swamp :(

 

I was amazed at how things are flooding again while out in the car today. I guess the ground is so moist already that the rain has nowhere to go.

It'd better be nice tomorrow - or I'll have to resort to chocolate again!

 

No, not annoyed, good luck to ya.:D

I dont have a swamp but its a bit sticky again now.:(

 

So - sorry a little question.

We covered the soil for a couple of weeks which we'd prepared for beg, to 'warm it up.' How is that different to a mulch in regards to heating up the soil?

 

If you use a polythene cover that lets in the sun but retains some of the heat at night it has a warming effect, black polythene also works as it warms up faster, if you totally obscure the sun from reaching the soil then you slow down the warming process.

I'm sure its not a big problem if your just mulching around established shrubs etc.