If it's compacted, loosen it so the leaves are free to get sun. Mulch shouldn't hold them down.

But do use it. Weeding is a nuisance.

thanks

I never remove the mulch from my garlic. It will easily poke through a loose mulch (I use hay), and I leave the mulch in place all season to suppress weeds and retain moisture.

TomNJ

I am in zone 4. Today (April 08) one of my garlic beds was finally dry enough for me to walk in the garden so I could loosen up the straw mulch where some plants were struggling to poke through.

So for me, when to remove (or rather loosen) mulch that is in the garlic patch is when I can walk in the garden without sinking into mud.

-Tom

We don't remove mulch (hay) either. But I have heard some complaints in our zone that leaving mulch on causes the plants to stay too wet and waterlogged. If the soil around your plants never drys out then I would remove the mulch, otherwise keep it on to help with weed control.