Fall is here. The temperatures are dropping, many asters and goldenrods have given way to seeds, and stems have turned brown as plants go dormant. The garden feels empty but the quiet is deceptive. Even in dormancy, plants support life. Many insects have taken cover in plant stems for the winter while other insects rely on fallen leaves. Seeds and berries are food for birds and other animals. Gardeners can help wildlife by doing less. 

Traditional fall clean-ups leave many pollinators without places to spend the winter. To make your garden a safe haven for pollinators year-round, leave your leaves and dormant plants as they are. Wait to cut stems until late spring after pollinators have emerged or simply let the plants grow on their own. In areas where stalks must be cut down early, leave 8”-24” of the plants rather than cutting them all the way to the ground.  

To build out habitat even more, leave your leaves on garden beds and anywhere they will not disrupt walkways. Leaves are important winter cover for pollinators. Fallen leaves and dormant plant stems dissipate rainfall before it hits the ground, reducing soil erosion. Leaves that need to be moved can be placed in compost piles, swept onto garden beds, stuffed around potted plants for insulation, or used as smothering material to kill lawns and create space for future gardens.