Skipping this one gardening job in March will help wildlife (and save you time)

Spring is here, and it’s time to dust off the secateurs and trowels. From pruning and sowing to mowing, there’s plenty to tick off our gardening to-do lists now.

However, there is one spring gardening job experts say is best left for the time being, as skipping it can make a big difference to local wildlife – while saving you some time.

As our gardens slowly wake up from their winter slumber, so do bees and butterflies. Pollinators come out of diapause between early March to April, when the first flowers begin to bloom.

colorful garden path lined with blooming flowers and trees

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In the early days of spring, however, nectar-rich blossoms can still be hard to come by, posing a potential threat to pollinators.

“If nectar isn’t available in March and early April, colonies can be weakened before the season has properly begun,” says Morris Hankinson, Managing Director of Hopes Grove Nurseries.

“Bee activity often doesn’t match what’s flowering in our gardens and many people aren’t aware of the simple garden tasks that can protect them.”

This is where one unassuming plant comes into play: dandelions.

According to Morris, choosing not to remove these yellow-flowering plants – considered a weed by many – can make a world of difference for airborne insects in search of early-season sustenance.

bee on yellow flowers against a dark background

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“The humble Taraxacum officinale is one of the most important early nectar sources for bees and other pollinators,” he says. “The flowers are rich in pollen when there is little else in the garden flowering.”

Because dandelions can grow almost anywhere – from cracks in the tarmac to lawns and flowerbeds – gardeners often try to remove them.

But Morris urges gardeners to hold off on this particular spring job. “Delay mowing the lawn or removing dandelions at this time of year so the bees can enjoy them,” he says.

Not only will you be helping local wildlife, you’ll also gain a little time back to enjoy the first warming rays of sunshine and the intoxicating hint of spring in the air before the busy gardening season fully kicks off.

Gardening jobs you should tackle in March:

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