By Scout Nelson
Fall garden cleanup is a common practice, but leaving some natural materials in place can benefit birds, butterflies, and other helpful wildlife. Autumn leaves, dried flowers, and standing grasses provide food, shelter, and protection during the cold winter months. A less tidy garden can also improve soil health and help some plants survive freezing temperatures.
Esther E. McGinnis, horticulturist at NDSU Extension, explained that leaving parts of the fall garden undisturbed can support wildlife and pollinators. Simple changes to fall cleanup routines can provide important winter habitats while reducing yard waste and helping gardens remain healthy.
Leave Some Leaves on the Ground
Fallen leaves are a valuable natural resource. When small or moderate amounts cover the lawn, mowing over them two or three times can break them into smaller pieces. These pieces return organic matter and nutrients, including nitrogen, to the soil. They also cover the ground and help limit weed seed growth.
However, balance is important. After mulching, about half of the lawn should remain visible. A thick layer of whole leaves can cover the grass too heavily and affect its growth.
If a yard has too many leaves, gardeners can rake the extra leaves into flower beds or pollinator gardens instead of bagging and throwing them away. This simple step creates shelter for butterflies and moths that spend the winter among fallen leaves.
For example, mourning cloak butterflies survive winter beneath thick layers of leaves. This natural cover helps protect them from sudden temperature changes. These butterflies are among the first to appear when spring arrives.
Leaves can also protect plants that are only partly able to withstand winter cold. In areas where snowfall is limited, a layer of leaves may provide some insulation around plant roots and crowns.
Keep Flower Seedheads for Birds
Fall is also a good time to leave some flowers standing rather than cutting every plant back. Many native flowers produce seedheads that provide food for birds during winter.
Asters, blazing stars, bee balms, black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, and sunflowers can all provide seeds for birds. Nuthatches, goldfinches, chickadees, and cardinals may visit these plants to find food when other sources become harder to find.
Keeping these flowers in place also adds natural beauty to a winter garden. Frost and snow can create attractive views around dried flowers and seedheads.
Standing plant stems offer shelter to some insects, too. Canadian tiger swallowtails, for example, spend winter in the chrysalis stage attached to plant stems or other sheltered surfaces. Leaving suitable garden plants undisturbed can help protect these insects until warmer weather returns.
Leave Native Grasses Standing
Native ornamental grasses are another useful feature of a winter garden. Switchgrass, little bluestem, and big bluestem provide structure and visual interest during cold weather. Their tall stems and seedheads can look especially attractive when covered with frost.
These grasses also support pollinators. Bumblebee queens are the main members of their colonies that survive winter. They need protected places to spend the cold months before starting new colonies in spring.
Native grasses can provide useful shelter, while the snow they catch helps insulate the ground. Protecting overwintering bumblebee queens supports future pollinator populations, which help pollinate apple trees, fruit trees, and many other plants.
A Simple Approach to Fall Garden Care
Gardeners do not need to stop all fall cleanup. Instead, they can focus on removing diseased plant material and managing excessive leaf cover while leaving healthy leaves, stems, and seedheads where they offer benefits.
Here are a few useful steps:
- Mulch a moderate amount of fallen leaves into the lawn.
- Move extra leaves into flower beds and pollinator gardens.
- Leave healthy native flowers standing through winter.
- Keep native ornamental grasses in place to provide shelter.
- Avoid disturbing areas where beneficial insects may be overwintering.
- Remove diseased plants when needed to limit the spread of plant problems.
A less tidy fall garden can support wildlife, return nutrients to the soil, and provide natural insulation during winter.
Photo Credit: istock-herreid
Categories: North Dakota, General