Do you want to put mulch down in your garden and yard, but don’t know when the best time is to?
Mulching your garden and yard is not as easy as it seems.
Here’s why:
- If you mulch at incorrect times it can kill the vegetables, herbs, flowers, and plants around it.
If you put down mulch too early in the spring it won’t last all summer and it will lose its color. And if you mulch too late in the year it won’t serve the purpose of aesthetics and protecting your plants.
Today, I’m going to teach you the ideal time to mulch in South Dakota:
- To Learn More About the BEST Mulch, Check Out This GUIDE!
When to Mulch in South Dakota
As you may have already guessed, you need to pay very close attention to your local weather in the spring. Specifically, you are going to need to watch when the first and last frost occurs.
In general, when there hasn’t been a frost for three to four weeks, you are SAFE to mulch in South Dakota! This will allow your mulch to retain its color while protecting your plants.
Also, you are still safe to mulch your garden and yard three to four weeks before the first frost of the year to help protect your plants from the winter warmer.
For your reference, I have created this table for average frost dates for most major cities in South Dakota. If your city is not listed below you can find its Last & First Frost Dates HERE.
South Dakota Last & First Frost Dates
Unfortunately, Mother Nature plays cruel tricks on us every year.
It should be noted that the above dates are just averages.
There are years when the last frost comes MUCH later. Sometimes, the last frost happens much earlier and you can lay mulch in South Dakota much quicker. And sometimes the first frost comes much earlier and you may miss your opportunity to lay mulch.
Like I said before, you need to be very diligent in checking your local weather.
Why Mulch Your Garden?
There are numerous reasons to mulch your garden, yard, and around your plants. These include:
- moisture retention
- increase soil heat
- Weed prevention
- Improve garden appearance
- Attract beneficial insects and prevent detrimental insects and pests
- Decrease fungus growth
- Decrease maintenance cost
- Increase the likelihood of seed germination
How to Mulch You Apply Mulch?
When applying mulch in your garden you should:
- First, weed the soil where you will be applying mulch
- Next, lay down approximately 6 inches worth of thickness of newspaper. This will prevent excess light that can potentially promote weed growth.
- Next, apply 4 to 6 inches of mulch around your plants to discourage weeds, retain moisture, and
