I know my neighbours thought I had finally lost it in the Fall when I brought 15 bales of straw home in September only to store them haphazardly on the side yard for the past three months.   At one time they served as autumn decor for our Fall Bulb Sales, then they seemed to create a "little house" for the motorcycle as we piled them like a fort beside our Suzuki M50.  Once they started to actually sprout they created a "chia pet" effect, making me the hit of the neighbourhood with all the kids coming home from school - "Look mom, now it is growing grass".  Ahhh, but now my plan will finally come into effect.  For the first year ever, I am attempting to insulate the garden for the winter.

Over the last week we have seen temperatures fluxuate as much as 20 degrees, going from above freezing to "oh my god it is *$%^#! cold out".  Living on a long corner lot, my garden seems to take the ravages of the city's salt.  Plus, moving from the Caledon area I lost the precious mountain of snow that protected many of my more delicate plants from the thawing and freezing that seems to happen with Toronto's fluctuating winter temperatures.  Last year I lost several precious plants, including my Amber Waves (which I had proudly saved year after year while my mother lost in the first season).  So this year, I have had it.  This is The Final Straw!  

This afternoon, on what seems to be the coldest day on record (well not really, but it is bloody-well freezing out there), I will suit up with long-johns and my husband's ear-flap toque for my final gardening adventure of the year.  I am breaking into those bales (hoping they have not frozen together completely) and placing them over the now frozen ground.  Now, I have to admit, this is an experiment so I can't give you a 100% guarantee that it will work, but if it does, I will have spared many of my favourite plants from the harsh reality of winter in the city.

If you plan to try the same method, you should wait until the ground is completely frozen before applying the straw.  I have chosen straw over other options, like pine boughs or fall leafs, just out of convenience.  I had them handy, so I figured, reduce, reuse, recycle and give this method a shot. 

The whole process is pretty straight-forward.  Apply a thick layer of straw over frozen ground.  Leave it alone for the winter and remove once the Spring thaw has begun and before bulbs start poking through the ground.

During my research into mulching with straw, I was told to be watchful of the grain going to seed in the garden resulting in enough weeds to feed a cow for the season.  Here's a great tip . . . store the bales uncovered outdoors over winter.  The bales get wet, causing the grain to germinate in autumn's warmth, then winter cold kills them off.  Presto!  Come spring, you've got problem-free mulch (at least I hope so).

THE DOWN AND DIRTY . . .

Winter Mulch

Mulching for the winter protects plants from drastic temperature changes in the soil, insulating plants against extreme cold, and also prevents soil erosion. Don’t mulch too early, though, as it may encourage disease and pests. It is best to wait until after the first frost when the ground starts to freeze. In general, 4 to 6 inches of mulch, such as dried leaves, pine needles, shredded bark, or pine boughs, will provide an adequate layer of protection for your softer plants.