Spring Clean Up – Leave the Leaves!

Above: University of New Hampshire Extension's Super Seven Pollinators

What, you might ask, do New Hampshire’s Super-Seven Pollinators have to do with spring clean up? A lot, it turns out. Six of the seven species – native bees, butterflies, moths, wasps, flies and beetles – have overwintered in the leaf litter and dead grasses and perennials. The seventh, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, is on its way but not expected until early May, and likely wouldn’t be hiding in the leaf litter anyway. 😊 The other six need the protection of this cover until we have a steady stretch of temperatures above 50 degrees. They won’t survive to do their necessary work for your plants if your yard is cleaned up too early.

Native bees do not live in hives like the European Honeybees used so extensively in agriculture. They nest on the ground, in cavities and in the stalks of last year’s perennials and grasses, and are some of the most beneficial and efficient pollinators in our gardens. Native bee species are declining at a serious rate due to pesticides and habitat loss.

Butterflies and moths are still in cocoons during this time. Most have dropped into the leaf litter and need its protection until things warm up consistently. Removing the cover of leaves destroys this protection and prevents them from emerging from cocoons. Butterfly and moth populations are also in trouble, and the decline of the Monarch butterfly, one of our local breeders, is well known.

Above: Cecropia Moth Cocoon by Ryan Hodnett (CC BY-SA 4.0)

I’m a bit winter weary as I think many gardeners are, so the forecast of a few days of high seventies this week is very welcome. It’s finally time to enjoy being in the garden, but it’s a mess. Snow plows have left dirty snow piles, and sand and gravel are everywhere. Wind blown branches and sticks are scattered over the yard and garden. Leaves are matted and unkempt looking. Last year’s perennials are dry, dead and messy. Ugh! It’s very tempting to neaten up everything. But what should we be doing or not doing?

To protect the pollinators, I won’t be raking or disturbing leaves or cutting back perennials and grasses yet. Steady temperatures above 50 up here could take another month.

This is where I plan to start:

• Sweep up sand and put gravel back where it belongs
• Pick up sticks and make brush piles for habitat
• Remove the tree wrap we used to protect our young trees from snow burrowing mammals
• Turn the compost to make room for the May clean up
• Take down bird feeders 😢 to keep them away from hungry bears, and clean up the seed husks and mess from the deck and patio

Although this to-do list doesn’t sound like that much fun, it’s really a thrilling time to be in the garden doing anything, as the plants slowly emerge from the dormancy of winter to transform our garden again.