Stop Cleaning Up Your Garden This Fall — 7 Things Experts Say to Leave Alone

Leaving fallen leaves, perennial stems, and healthy seed heads in place can provide winter shelter and food for beneficial insects and birds. Experts recommend selective fall cleanup instead of stripping garden beds completely bare. encierro/Shutterstock

If your fall gardening routine involves cutting everything back, raking up every leaf, and leaving your flower beds spotless, you might actually be doing more harm than good. While a tidy yard may look appealing, many of those seemingly messy plants and leaves serve an important purpose during the colder months.

In fact, some of the best fall gardening advice involves doing less work, not more.