Before winter closes in, do one last thing for all the trees, shrubs and other plants in your garden: Make sure they have a cozy layer of mulch over their roots.

“Spread it flat and even, like a blanket over the soil,” said Sharon Yiesla, plant knowledge specialist in the Plant Clinic at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle. You can purchase mulch or simply redistribute the fallen leaves that are free and abundant at this time of year.

Make the mulch layer about 3 to 4 inches deep over the roots of trees and shrubs and 1 or 2 inches deep in perennial beds. If it’s too deep, mulch can block air and water from penetrating to the soil to reach plants’ roots.

Around trees and shrubs, avoid heaping mulch up against the trunk or stems. “You’re spreading a blanket, not making a pile,” she said.

Mulc

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