Covering up perennials

If you haven't already, should be safe to cover perennials, nope it's not to late! What does covering them do anyway? Doesn't the ground freeze 6 ft. down? Here are a few reasons:

• drying out; mulching over will help protect the crown - especially on shallow rooted plants like mums
• helps to maintain moisture - critical for those snowless winters, preceded by the drought we continue to be in
• insulates the ground; straw is a great insulator. It may help keep the ground below to stay a little warmer a little longer - this will give newly plant perennials like peony roots & others a few more weeks to root
• just don't cover too soon - not until November - talking 'winter mulch' here. Best time to cover is when the ground is staying frozen, or temps are continously cold - near freezing. Covering with a winter mulch too soon can lead to rot, with fall rains (what are those?) and periods of sunny warm days.
• rodents may also like the cozy straw. I put out bait chunks in small juice bottles for them. I squirt some glue in the bottom of the bottle, then drop in a bait chunk. This is my attempt to keep the poison readily out of the paws of dogs/cats.  

Springtime info:

• in the spring, pull off mulch once temps are consistently staying above freezing
• plants will start to re-grow under the mulch. If mulch stays on too long, the new plant tissue can become yellowed and weak. If this has happened, you need to gradually remove the mulch over  several days, taking perhaps a week total. Everyday remove a little more. If you remove all at once with plants in that condition, the sun will likely 'burn' the foliage. Most will eventually grow back, but could be a weaker/smaller plant all season as it's first burst of energy to re-grow was wasted. 

Winter mulch/Summer mulch....whats the dif?
Summer mulch is placed around the base or near the base of plants to help retain moisture, reducing loss thru evaporation up to 90%! It also helps to reduce soil splash from watering or rain onto fruits or flowers. In the vegetable garden, it can also provide a drainage haven for melon/cukes etc. to rest on so they don't rot.
Winter mulch is material that is heaped onto plants/crown systems  for winter plant protection.
Should be material that drains freely like straw/hay/pine needles. Leaves tend to compact, stay wet & can actually rot the plant. Happy covering!