STEP 6: MULCH With your soil amended and next season’s seeds and bulbs in the ground, it’s time to add a winter blanket to the mix. Add a layer of bark, newspaper, mulch, or shredded leaves to suppress weeds, retain moisture, and keep soil temperatures stable. Apply mulch to a depth of three to five inches for proper insulation. For new or tender plants, consider the climate where you live and offer protection from the elements if needed. Place potted plants into a greenhouse or acclimate them to the house. For perennials in the ground, provide a light plastic cover in addition to the mulch. Some plants even prefer to be wrapped in a frame made of chicken wire and stuffed with leaves or straw. Burlap is another helpful material to protect plants, such as evergreens, from harsh winter winds. STEP 5: LABEL YOUR PLANTINGS Spring is an exciting time as buds push through the surface and blooms begin to open. But it can be frustrating to spend your time trying to figure out what you planted in the fall. Save yourself some hassle—and prevent placing one plant over another—by clearly labeling your plantings. Get as fancy as you want with your plant labels. You can hit up Pinterest for endless ideas of fun and creative plant markers. Or grab some Popsicle sticks and a marker to do the job. Place markers precisely and ensure they are stable in the soil. Otherwise, they may shift or fall over.
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