Mulching over basal foliage

Quick question: I was thinking of mulching one of our beds tomorrow but there are some oenothera in it with basal foliage. Since the foliage is only 1/4-1/2" high, is it ok to just mulch right over that? If so, maybe an inch or two?

I would by all means mulch the bed BUT The basil I know is very tender around the foliage, soft and when crushed / cut, it would then be a target for disease, the aroma sent out from the leaves would attract Aphids because they are still too tender to fight these types of things off.

What I would do is, as you spread the mulch just make a mulch FREE circle around the Basil, once the basil has grown more and some of the mulch falls into the small circle, it wont do the same type of damage as the plants will then be more mature.

Hope this is of some help to you.
Good luck and kind regards.
WeeNel.

Thanks Weenel but I was not talking about the herb :) I was referring to the foliage at the bottom of my oenothera that says there all winter.

I would mulch all around it, but avoid covering the basal foliage. Allow it to grow out a bit before tucking the mulch in closer to the plant.

Most plants do not want mulch or anything else any higher on the stems that it is already used to, anyway. What I have done in situations like this is to use the coarser mulch farther from the plant, and lightly dust the finest, dust-sized particles over the plant, then jiggle the leaves so the dust sifts down to the soil. Max 1/4" of mulch at the stems. Could be a couple of inches deep away from the plant.

Proper names are always better so we all know exactly what plant is being discussed but we gardeners always just assume from one area to the next, everyone knows the local, names but there is no problem, I understand the difficulties on a world wide forum LOL.

I would still not mulch too close to young tender growth however, when winter or real cold weather hits, we sometimes have to go ahead and just take a chance, BUT it all depends on the plant in question.

I feel sure Diana will give the correct info as she is more local to your environment, however, GLOBALY we are all having to change some ways, shelter or move some plants, it appear's to be a changing climate everywhere. MY garden soil here in UK is still way too wet and we are almost end of March so my Veg will be really late planting, Everyone talks about the changing weather but we cant help that LOL.
Hope your Basil survives and no harm comes to it.
Best Regards.
WeeNel.

WeeNel, the plant is one of the Evening Primrose, Oenothera species.
Basal growth is the new buds and emerging stems from a dormant plant, or one that has been cut back.

The mulching technique is the same, though. Don't smother the small, new, tender growth of either plant. (Oenothera spp. or Ocimum basilicum)

Well it was under leaves all winter so I figured mulch wouldn't hurt. Oh well, we'll see if it comes up or not. Thank you Diana for understanding what I was talking about.

No guilt on your part Sequoiadendron, my mistake, I honestly thought you were talking about the HERB called Basil, not the new shoots, I take basil cutting here in UK and they always take better than soft tip cutting, well for me any way.
the mistakes were all on my part and thank goodness for people like Diana who can mind read all parties LOL, so another one of her endless talent for sure EH !!!!!.

Now that I have re-read the original question It's as clear as day and my brain must have wandered way out to sea, maybe even still splashing about out in the water, LOL.

Please never stop asking questions because I was an idiot, I will wear my Dunces (D) hat for the rest of the week, it's Mothering Sunday and I'll have all the Family here with my lovely Grandkids, they will think the hats one of my fashion flops ha, ha, ha.
Take good care and Happy gardening. OH our weather has improved so should be able to get seeds done.
Kindest Regards.
WeeNel.

Haha...no worries :)