As the blazing summer sun begins to bake your flowers and shrubs, and as the frosts of fall turn plants from green to brown, there’s an understandable desire to trim withered plants and make your landscape all clean and tidy.
But many species of insects and birds use dead vegetation for food, cover, and overwintering, so a less-than-neat yard is actually very beneficial to wildlife.
Consider setting aside a portion of your property and allowing it to remain natural all the way until the following spring, cleaning it only after temperatures have warmed consistently. The creatures that share your yard will thank you for it.
