We get asked to “clean everything up” every October. Some of that is worth doing. Some of it removes the seed heads birds eat all winter and the hollow stems native bees overwinter in. Here’s where we draw the line.
Do these before the first frost
Pull annuals and anything that was diseased this year, and bin it rather than composting it. Plant spring bulbs and divide crowded perennials such as daylilies and hostas while the soil is still warm. Give trees and shrubs planted this year a deep watering every week or two until they go dormant.
Leaves on the lawn should come off or be mulched in with the mower; a thick mat will smother grass by March. Leaves in beds can stay. They’re free mulch.
Leave these until spring
Leave seed heads on coneflowers, black-eyed Susans and ornamental grasses. Wait until late February to cut perennials back, and leave the stems at about a foot so overwintering insects have somewhere to go.
The one tool job
Clean, sharpen and oil your pruners and mower blade now, while you remember. In March you’ll be glad you did.