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October 4, 2024

Fall cleanup in the garden doesn't mean what it used to

By JESSICA DAMIANO
Associated Press

Image from iStockPhoto [enlarge]
Raking and blowing has been a harbinger of fall. But trashing those leaves in plastic bags amounts to throwing away free fertilizer, and also removes shelter needed for overwintering insects. Leave the leaves where they fall or move them into garden beds and borders to enrich the soil.

Cleaning up the garden — or “putting the garden to bed” — has traditionally been a fall endeavor. In recent years, however, as information about the migrating or hibernating habits of birds, pollinators and other beneficial wildlife has seeped into the mainstream, many gardeners are postponing their big cleanups until spring. And that's a good thing.


 
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