"The forest has three layers," she said. "It has the herbaceous, the ground layer, the midstory and then the canopy trees, and to see all three layers being damaged was really difficult."
On the other hand, during heavy rains, mulch will absorb excess water, preventing plants from drowning. Some woody perennials, such as hydrangeas, don't like soggy soil; they can suffer root rot and fungal growth. Also, overly saturated soil can lose valuable nutrients through leaching. Mulch helps prevent all of that! Winter precipitation can also add to erosion problems. If you've got a sloped garden bed, a layer of mulch can help prevent soil from washing away.
No matter the type of farm, there's an advantage to planting soil-feeding cover crops ahead of fall and winter. The assistance provided depends on the crops you plant. But there is definitely one out there to help you accomplish your desired soil conditions. Whether it's soil tilth, an increase in nitrogen, or phosphorus availability, a cover crop's purpose is to improve and enrich the foundation of your farm.