Mulch

Question

Can dried leaves be used for mulch when planting bulbs?

Answer 1

Dried leaves should ideally be run over by a mower or shredded before use as mulch. Otherwise they may mat down, preventing good air exchange and water penetration. Bulbs don’t need mulching if planted at the correct depth. Your bigger worry is squirrels who dig up your nicely planted bulb to put their acorn in its place. Any recently worked soil is fair game. Try planting just a few bulbs one day and see if they get dug up. If so, you have options such as laying/staking hardware cloth over the area and under the mulch. Since it is the newly worked soil and not the bulb that attracts squirrels (and who knows what other critters), you’ll need to use the wire cloth just this winter. Next spring, watch for bunnies and deer – both voracious eaters of new spring bulb growth.