Prairie Heart Garden Service & Design LLC

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With the first true hard freeze for most of the area looking very likely toward the end of next week, you may be tempted to spend the upcoming warm weekend doing some Fall clean-up among your perennials. While a little pruning of taller plants for aesthetic purposes is okay, we urge you to let as many dry leaves and flowers fall to the ground and as many dead stems stand over the Winter as possible.

Spent plant material is essential in providing native insects and wildlife food and shelter during the cold Winter months. Leaves and flowers left on the ground create a layer of warmth and safety that many species will hibernate amongst, seeds are a vital food source for overwintering birds and small mammals, and the dead stems will play a major role in the Spring when solitary bees utilize them for laying their eggs and raising the next generation of pollinators.

Leaving these materials will not inhibit plant growth next Spring and actually helps to better protect your investment from harsh conditions during the Winter. Keeping dead stems intact this Fall prevents water from trickling down into the plant’s root zone which can freeze and damage it, negatively affecting its long-term survival. Over the Winter, fallen leaves work to keep your plants’ roots insulated and protected against extreme cold temperatures. In the Spring, native plants have no trouble growing up through this layer which will break down over the Summer, returning many nutrients to your soil. And lastly, the dead stems will act as natural support for rapid new Spring growth, helping to reduce flopping and lessen the need for heavy pruning or extra maintenance throughout the year.

Remember, feeding insects all Summer is moot if we take away their habitat in the Winter, so please make it a point to !

If you plant shrubs for winter interest, make sure it is a native shrub with berries that sustain your local wildlife. There are many types of Buckthorn or Viburnum. But what is native in your state can be a nuisance or even an invasive elsewhere. Non-native species often lack the specific nutrients that your local birds need. If you live in the USA and you are not sure what to look for; use the USA Plant Database. The birds will be grateful! https://plants.usda.gov/home

Snowdrop anemone, come on Spring!

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