Spring Mulching Made Easier

To speed up the job of adding mulch or compost to a bed that contains emerging perennial plants in the spring, gather up several pots in assorted sizes, preferably ones that will just fit over the plants you want protected, and turn them upside down over the emerging plants. When the plants are covered in this manner, you can do the job quickly without damaging the fragile plants or getting mulch inside the rolled leaves of hostas and other similar plants.

If you have large areas, you can do it in stages. Once the pots are in place, shovel the mulch onto the bed and then, using a small shrub rake, spread it evenly around the pots. Then remove the pots and carefully pull the mulch closer to the plants. I prefer to do this part with my hands.