It’s better to leave these grasses and herbaceous perennials alone.
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Food for Wildlife
The stems of grasses and flowers serve many purposes.
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Birds such as chickadees and sparrows will forage for seeds throughout the winter."
Shelter for Wildlife
The dead and dormant plants also provide shelter for wildlife and beneficial insects.
Mackow points out that hollow-stemmed plants can serve as overwintering and nesting grounds for native pollinators.
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Wait to cut down the plants until after the insects have emerged in the spring.
The dead stems act as insulation for the plants crown, improving its hardiness, Gifford explains.
with their grayish-rich browns, and alsowild bergamot(Monarda fistulosa).
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Pruning spring-flowering shrubs such aslilacandforsythia, which bloom on old wood, removes the flower buds, Gifford warns.
Wait until these shrubs finish blooming in spring to trim them, otherwise youll reduce the bloom.
Leaves are natures mulch, Gifford says.
They decompose over time, enriching the soil with nutrients."
Gifford explains how a layer of leaves protects garden beds from freezing temperatures during the winter and moisture loss.
West Virginia University Extension.
Soil Testing in Winter.
Canola Council of Canada.
