Garden maintenance tips for fall cleanup and winter protection

Effective fall garden cleanup involves deciding which plants to prune and which to leave standing to support local ecosystems and plant health. Leaving perennials with seed heads, such as coneflowers, milkweed, and goldenrod, provides essential food for nonmigratory birds and shelter for pollinators and beneficial insects.

To protect spring blooms, avoid pruning shrubs like azaleas, rhododendrons, forsythia, and hydrangeas during the fall, as they produce flowers on the prior year’s growth. Similarly, ornamental grasses should remain standing through winter to provide habitat for overwintering insects.

For woody or semi-woody perennials like lavender and Russian sage, leaving top growth intact can protect the crowns from frost damage. Additionally, incorporating fallen leaves into garden beds offers further shelter for beneficial insects that help control pests in the spring.