Radio Transcript
October 5th, 2026
Tanner Collier

Hello, this is Tanner Collier, the Horticulture Agent with Burke County Cooperative Extension. It’s time to start doing some fall chores in the landscape, so let’s talk about “mulching in the fall.”

Mulch is an important component to landscapes for various reasons. It is good at retaining moisture in the soil, weed suppression, adding organic matter, and for aesthetics. No matter the reason, people put out mulch every year. But why should you put out mulch in the Fall? It's not for weed suppression but to keep plant roots from freezing and keeping soil from washing away.

There are a few points to remember when spreading mulch. You want 3-4 inches of mulch in your beds and around trees. If there is already previous mulch in the area, determine the depth and add mulch as needed. If your mulch is already deep enough, you can rake it back out to expose the color for aesthetic reasons. When mulching around trees, make sure you do not pile mulch up against the trunk. This can encourage diseases and insects to affect the tree. When mulching dormant plants, spread around 2-3 inches of mulch over them. If the plant has evergreen leaves, avoid covering the leaves with mulch. By doing this, this will keep the roots of these perennial plants from freezing and ensure their survival for the coming year.

This has been Tanner Collier with Burke County Cooperative Extension. If you have any questions or want more information, you can contact us at (828) 764-9480.