I’ve decided I am not going to pull up or cut back my garden plants until next spring. And other than mowing our grass one last time, I don’t plan to get rid of fallen leaves until then either.
There are so many beneficial insects that overwinter in leaf matter or in dried plant stems like fireflies, moths, butterflies, spiders, snails, beetles and even queen bumblebees.
I also started a little brush pile this spring. It was unintentional at first. I kept missing our city’s brush pick-up dates, so I made a temporary collection spot under 3 of our biggest arborvitaes.
Then I read how helpful a brush pile can be for birds, small mammals and insects, so I decided to keep it. Whenever a branch falls in our yard I add it to the pile!
That brush pile will also double as a wind block for the area where I like to toss seed for Dark-eyed Juncos, White-throated Sparrows and other ground-feeding birds during the winter months.
This summer I was very concerned when I only found a handful of pollinators in my yard over a 3-week period.
Leaving the leaves and garden plants in place for the winter is an easy way to help pollinators, birds and other critters thrive.