That “dead” garden plant may look like it has officially clocked out for the season, but resist the urge to grab the pruners just yet. Many perennial stems and seed heads can serve a useful purpose through winter, giving wildlife shelter, feeding birds, protecting the plant itself, and making spring cleanup more productive.
A garden does not need to look perfectly manicured when temperatures drop. In fact, a little winter mess can work surprisingly hard behind the scenes. Before everything gets chopped to the soil line, take a closer look at what those crispy stems are actually doing.
