Fall garden cleanup used to mean cutting every perennial to the ground, raking out every leaf, and leaving beds nearly bare before winter. We now know that some of what looks like garden debris is actually valuable shelter for bees, butterflies, moths and other beneficial insects spending winter in our yards. That doesn’t mean you have to choose between an abandoned-looking landscape and a wildlife sanctuary, either. Wildlife-friendly garden cleanup is really about being selective: remove genuine problems while leaving enough stems, leaves, and seed heads to provide winter habitat. Done thoughtfully, it can even mean less work and less money spent hauling away material your garden can use.
