Fall garden cleanup creates a dilemma for many homeowners, balancing the desire for a tidy yard with the need to support local ecosystems. Gardeners often argue over whether to remove dead plant matter or leave it to decompose naturally. Several experts weigh in on the best approach for maintaining a healthy garden environment through the winter months.
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David Trinklein, an associate professor of horticulture at the University of Missouri, advocates for a thorough cleanup to prevent pest infestations. He explains that cleaning up the garden is key to removing current infestations and preventing invasions in the first place. Even if a garden appears problem-free, pests and disease inoculum are likely lurking unseen and can multiply quickly under the right conditions.
Trinklein recommends raking up fallen leaves and debris, such as dead annuals and vegetables. He suggests cutting back perennials to the crown and composting dead material only if the pile reaches a high enough temperature—usually around 140 degrees Fahrenheit for multiple days. If the compost pile isn’t reliable, he advises bagging debris and disposing of it in the trash or city compost to prevent pests from overwintering in the stems.
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Sarah Foltz Jordan, a pollinator conservation specialist with the Xerces Society, takes the opposite approach. She advises gardeners not to bother cleaning up at all. Her philosophy is that leaving leaves in place provides essential habitat for wildlife. Chopping leaves with a mower can harm queen bees and butterfly eggs, while leaving leaves on the lawn can help nearly 70 percent of native bees that need access to bare ground to make nests.
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Jordan suggests leaving as many perennial stems standing over the winter as possible. Stems with pith, such as bee balm, aster, and goldenrod, provide nesting sites for bees. These stems should be cut back in early spring to a height of 6 to 24 inches, allowing emerging bees to access the stems. She also notes that a dead log in the yard is a valuable resource for mason bees, leaf-cutter bees, lady beetles, and fireflies.
