Are leaves a good winter mulch?

Question:

Are leaves a good winter mulch?

Answer:

Winter mulches are applied to plants, such as strawberries and chrysanthemums, in fall to prevent damage caused by extreme cold or repeated freezing and thawing of the soil during the winter months. Leaves are a poor winter mulch for strawberries and herbaceous perennials. Leaves tend to mat down and don’t provide much protection. Clean, weed-free straw and pine needles are excellent winter mulches. Straw and pine needles don’t mat down, provide good winter protection and are easy to remove in spring.