The days have gotten shorter, the wind has picked up, we’ve already had several frosts and even snow! The garden is ready to be put to bed for a rejuvenating slumber. But should I clean up everything and get to straight base ground? This topic seems to be hotly debated as of late. Some say completely cleanup, discard/ compost roughage and get everything ready for spring.
On the other hand, others say not to cleanup as the roughage on the ground provides habitat and cover for frogs, salamanders, solitary bees and many other animals and beneficial pollinators. So, I’m going to do a little experiment. I’m not going to do a Fall cleanup. I’m going to get rid of any diseased items, but I’m going to leave the ground litter, leaves and roughage so critters have a nice habitat for the winter. It should be a fun experiment. And if it works well, it could really reduce my fall workload, which would be very beneficial. So, wish me luck! I’ll post in the spring my thoughts on a fall non-cleanup; pros and cons. Enjoy the fall!
