Putting your Garden to Bed?

I am not a fan of late fall yard clean-ups. The debris and leaves that accumulate in your yard in the fall are akin to a winter coat for your shrubs and perennials. Cutting down your perennials and raking the leaves out of your garden beds is like your teanage daughter going to the bus-stop without a hat and coat so that she’ll look ‘cool’ and wont mess up her hair.

The leaves and debris provide a haven for good insects through the winter. Uncut perennials allow better root and crown protection (they catch leaves and snow for their insulation), provide food and perches for birds and add winter landscape interest for you.

There are exceptions:

• Leaves on the lawn – rake or mow, shred and use as mulch in your gardens – if left on the lawn, and matted under the snow, they can kill the grass and/or encourage snow mold
• Plants that showed signs of disease – these should be cut back and disposed of properly
• Plants that reseed readily (if you don’t want them to spread) – deadhead after flowering throughout the season

If you are new to ecological landcare and/or still haven’t gotten used to what some consider the ‘unkept’ look of an uncleaned garden manage your transition by cutting perennials only to within 8 inches of the ground.

Happy Gardening,

Patty Laughlin, NHCLP, AOLCP

Owner/Head Gardener

Lorax Landscaping

Epping, NH