GreenThumb Digest | 16 November 2025
Cold winds are setting in, and your soil needs protection as much as your plants do. A good winter mulch shields roots, feeds microbes, and keeps your garden in top condition for spring.
By Tony O'Neill | Simplify Gardening
Cold winds are setting in, and your soil needs protection as much as your plants do. A good winter mulch shields roots, feeds microbes, and keeps your garden in top condition for spring.
Main Topic
Soil health is the foundation of everything. By covering and feeding it now, you'll reduce erosion, save nutrients, and wake up to a richer bed next year.
This week's key tasks:
Pro Tip
Use spent compost from summer containers as a base layer before topping with fresh mulch. It lightens clay soils and adds organic matter.
Mini Q&A
Q: Is it better to mulch before or after frost?
A: After the first light frost is perfect. It helps trap cold air in the soil and stabilises temperature swings, protecting roots all winter.
Quick Tip of the Week
This Week's Tip
Shred large leaves before adding them to beds or compost. Smaller pieces break down faster and are less likely to mat together.
Resource of the Week
Free Download
Get the most from every layer you spread. Download my free Ultimate Side Dressing Guide to learn which materials add nutrients, how thick to apply them, and when to refresh.
You reap what you sow,
Tony O'Neill
Green Thumb Digest | Brought to You by Simplify Gardening
Next issue: Winter Winds Are Coming -- Secure Your Garden Now
Next Issue: Winter Winds Are Coming →