Just a few of my personal favorites. there is lots of good information and sources to check out for your garden and yard.
As most of you may know I grow mostly perennials in my yard and preparing them for both winter and spring becomes a yearly activity. As shown above, I cut back the plants, leaving about a foot or so to leave dead herbaceous plants over winter to provide structure to the garden, as well as food and shelter for wildlife. However, more care is needed when cutting back in spring to avoid damaging new shoot growth. I always try to cut back to the base of the plant in early March before new growth appears. More on that in the coming weeks.
We always hear about leaving our leaves on the grass in the fall. I don’t as they will smother the grass over the winter. I mulch the leaves that are on the grass and leave the leaves on the flower beds as mulch. There is no one size fits all. It depends on how many and how big your trees are.
I use shears to cut stems close to the ‘crown’ or dormant top of the plant, avoiding the removal of new shoots. In spring, new growth arises from the base of herbaceous plants (including grasses) that die back to ground level over winter. This is best not removed during cutting back. I also like to leave leaves and existing mulch for over-wintering insects that are beneficial to the garden. I also use this time to inspect plants for damage and prepare them for new growth.
I like to leave dead herbaceous plants over winter to provide structure to the garden, as well as food and shelter for wildlife. In cutting back now, be careful when cutting back to avoid damaging new shoot growth. The longer you wait now means warmer weather and rain will encourage new growth. Try to avoid the removal of new shoots as you prepare for for the new year.
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