Autumn has a habit of drawing our attention upwards.

We notice leaves beginning to turn, flowers fading and stems dying back. Yet some of the most important preparations for winter are happening somewhere rather less visible: below the surface of the soil.

Roots may be safely tucked underground, but they are still affected by falling temperatures, repeated freezing and thawing, heavy winter rain and changes in soil moisture.

One of the simplest ways to give them a little additional protection is mulching.

It is neither complicated nor particularly glamorous. Done properly, however, it can make a considerable difference to how comfortably a garden moves through winter.

What is mulching?

Mulching simply means placing a protective layer of material over the surface of the soil around plants.

Gardeners use all sorts of materials for this, including bark, wood chips, leaf mould, compost, straw and purpose-made natural fibre mulch mats.

The precise material matters less than understanding what the mulch is there to do.

Rather like putting on an extra layer before stepping outside on a cold morning, mulch creates a buffer between the soil and the conditions above it.

How does mulch protect plant roots?

Mulch doesn’t make the soil warm in the way a heater warms a greenhouse.

Instead, it helps moderate changes in soil conditions.

A layer over the surface can reduce the speed at which the soil loses heat and help protect against sudden fluctuations in temperature. This can be particularly useful when mild autumn weather gives way to colder nights.

The result is a somewhat more stable environment around the root zone.

And roots generally appreciate stability.

Mulching helps with moisture too

Winter gardening isn’t only about cold.

British weather can provide an awkward combination of heavy rainfall, drying winds, occasional mild spells and sudden frosts.

A suitable mulch can help reduce moisture loss from the soil surface during drier periods whilst also protecting the soil itself from the direct impact of heavy rain.

This doesn’t mean mulch can compensate for poor drainage. If water routinely sits around a plant’s roots, that underlying problem still needs attention.

Mulching is useful. It isn’t magic.

Which plants benefit from autumn mulching?

A surprisingly broad range.

Established shrubs, roses, fruit bushes, young trees and many perennial plants can benefit from having their root zones protected as colder weather approaches.

Container plants deserve particular attention.

Unlike plants growing in open ground, their roots are surrounded by a relatively small volume of growing medium. The sides of the container are also exposed to the air, meaning temperatures around the root system can change considerably more quickly.

For valuable or less hardy container plants, it may therefore be sensible to combine mulching with moving the pot to a more sheltered position.

When should you mulch before winter?

Autumn is an excellent time.

You don’t necessarily need to wait until the first genuinely cold night. In fact, preparing the garden beforehand is considerably more pleasant than attempting to do everything after winter has already announced its arrival.

Before mulching, remove obvious unwanted growth and check the condition of the soil.

If the ground is exceptionally dry, water where appropriate before applying the mulch. Equally, avoid simply sealing a thick layer over thoroughly waterlogged ground.

The objective is to help maintain reasonable, stable conditions around the roots.

How thick should mulch be?

This depends upon the material you’re using.

Loose organic mulches such as bark or leaf mould generally need sufficient depth to form a useful covering without being piled excessively around stems.

Whatever material you choose, avoid creating a mound immediately against the base of a plant, tree trunk or woody stem.

Leave a little breathing space.

A garden does not become better protected simply because everything has disappeared beneath an enormous heap of mulch.

What about coir mulch mats?

For pots, trees, shrubs and individual plants, coir mulch mats provide a rather neat alternative to loose mulch.

Instead of spreading bark or another loose material around the plant, a coir mat sits over the surface of the soil to provide a physical protective layer.

At CoirProducts®, our Coir Mulch Mats are available in a range of sizes, making them suitable for everything from relatively small pots to considerably larger planting areas.

Explore CoirProducts® Coir Mulch Mats Coir Mulch Mats | Weed Control Mats  

For container gardeners in particular, mats can be convenient because they stay neatly around the plant without loose material being scattered every time a pot is moved or the weather becomes lively.

They can also be removed or repositioned when required.

Don’t forget larger plants

Mulching isn’t merely a job for flowerpots.

The root zone around young trees and established shrubs can extend considerably beyond the immediate base of the plant.

Where you’re using loose mulch, spread it across a sensible area rather than building a small volcano around the trunk.

For individual planting positions where a more defined covering is preferable, larger coir mats can be particularly useful.

CoirProducts® offers square Coir Mulch Mats in sizes ranging from 12cm through to 100cm, so the mat can be chosen according to the planting area rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.

[Shop Coir Mulch Mats →]

Mulching is only part of winter protection

It is worth remembering that no single autumn job prepares a garden for everything winter might bring.

Tender plants may still need to be moved under cover. Containers may need raising to improve drainage. Tall plants might require additional support. Greenhouses need checking, and particularly vulnerable specimens may require more substantial frost protection.

Think of mulching as one part of a wider autumn routine.

It protects the area we cannot readily see but upon which everything above ground depends.

A little work now, ready for spring

By late autumn, it can be tempting to regard the garden as finished for the year.

It isn’t.

Beneath apparently quiet beds and containers, roots remain fundamental to what happens next. Looking after the soil around them now gives plants a better environment in which to face the colder months ahead.

And there is something rather satisfying about that.

Protect the roots, tidy what needs tidying, leave what nature can make use of — and allow the garden to settle into winter in its own time.