EWCJ Garden Cleanup Tip: Let Your Garden Rest
As fall arrives, many of us start thinking about putting our gardens “to bed.” But when it comes to caring for our gardens in an earth-friendly way, sometimes doing less is actually doing more.
For the most part, we leave our perennial gardens alone over the winter. Why? Because those dormant plants provide an important winter habitat for insects. The hollow stems and dried foliage become cozy little “bunkbeds” for the insects we depend on for healthy ecosystems, including many pollinators.
Instead of cutting everything back in the fall, let those plants stand through the winter. You may even notice that their stalks and seed heads take on beautiful shapes and textures beneath the snow, adding winter interest to the garden.
There are a few things you can do as you prepare your garden for winter:
* 🌱 Cut off spent flower heads if you prefer a tidier look or want to prevent unwanted reseeding.
* 🍂 Remove diseased plants or plant material that could spread disease next season.
* 🌿 Pull weeds so they don’t get a head start in the spring.
* 🪴 Add compost to enrich the soil and support next year’s growth.
* 🌾 Plant a cover crop or add mulch where appropriate to help protect and nourish the soil.
Otherwise, let your garden rest.
When spring arrives, we can cut those remaining perennial stalks back to about 9–12 inches and allow new growth to emerge around them. The old stems can continue to provide habitat until the insects have emerged and the weather has warmed.
A little less tidying in the fall can mean a lot more life in the garden. By leaving our gardens standing through winter, we make room for the small creatures that help our gardens—and our whole ecosystem—thrive. 🌎🐝🦋