Removing Mulch

If you applied a winter mulch to protect your plants, follow this tip on removing it this spring:

1. Pull back the mulch in stages, beginning by pulling off one layer and leaving some material covering the plant. A week or so later, pull back the rest, but don't remove it from the area. Leaving it close by the plant will allow you to easily recover the plant if a late frost or freeze is forecast.

2. Do any mulch removal on a cloudy day. This will allow any early growth to become acclimated to brighter conditions gradually—if you remove the mulch on a clear day, the plant could be scalded by the sudden bright sunlight.