we have had a few super cold days recently,and over an inch of rain right before that, and now I am noticing a few areas in the mulch beds that look like underground explosions have taken place......mulch heaves! The soil looks like it exploded and ice fingers are visible......should I step on these in an attempt to push the soil back down, leave them alone, or ?

I'd think free aeration would be a good thing ... just an opinion though.

some areas look like the mulch beds have risen 4-5 inches!

HanLawn wrote:we have had a few super cold days recently,and over an inch of rain right before that, and now I am noticing a few areas in the mulch beds that look like underground explosions have taken place......mulch heaves! The soil looks like it exploded and ice fingers are visible......should I step on these in an attempt to push the soil back down, leave them alone, or ?

Funny you should write about this. I came in the house yesterday and made told my husband it looked like tiny little ants were building one of my small gardens. No mulch and soils is pretty much sand. The soil was wet from the rain late last week and when it frozen it was very cool looking. I had the soil, then little pillars with soil on top of them that looked like a little roof. I started to get my camera out and take a picture of it. Strangest freeze I've ever seen and I really, really wish I would have taken a picture was at my old house. I had an plastic planter bottom that I put out on the corner of my deck rail for my mocking birds. In winter, I'd bring it in and thaw it out and refill it with fresh, warm water and put it back out. I woke up one morning and looked out and it looked like there was an ocean wave right in the middle of the water. Not sure what caused it but the water froze upward in the middle.

Right now I have little worm volcanos frozen up all over my yard. Guess the 50 degree temps and rains we're scheduled to get tomorrow will take care of those.

Frost heave might kill grasses that now have their roots exposed to the air (translation: will kill). Likewise, any shrubs or plants that heave should be replaced immediately.

Heaving in March is far less dangerous, but should still be corrected.

by ronert » Yesterday, 12:06 pm
I'd think free aeration would be a good thing ... just an opinion though.

I agree, the only time I would be concerned is if you have some plantings that are not rated for your zone and get a colder than average winter. My east facing bed gets like that every year when there is little to no snow cover. In fact its like that right now. Nothing has ever been harmed. I do have to replant the Heucheras or add soil around them in the spring once in a while. They aren't very happy about it but have never come close to being killed and will survive even when forgotten and left like that for a few years. My theory is when this happens (in my case up hereat least) the roots are dormant and get by.

Ground that has lots of moisture available is most apt to do this and is a normal part of the freezing process.

Drying out is more the issue than the cold is (but it does contribute). I damaged a butterfly bush from heaving, and I've occasionally killed a few things. However, this property has winds like Siberia.