Now that all the snow has melted I’m wondering if I should be cutting down and clearing some stuff out. How do I know which ones shouldn’t be cut back? I have to say I’m very excited for this season to see everything after it’s had a little time to hang out. There are a few things that are due to “leap” this year after the sleep and creep phase but most of these plants are new for me.
I’m also trying to remember what’s where. There’s some ironed, and milkweed in the first pic. Joe Pye, stonecropfor sure in the second but also a lot more.
by iwanderlostandfound
4 Comments
Nothing. Plan, sit, wait, let the bugs emerge. Plan some more.
I like to cut back my grasses and perennials to around 18-24″. There’s good research that shows that this creates great habitat for stem-dwelling insects, and it makes things look more tidy which is important to both me and my neighbors.
[https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/garden-cleanup-for-pollinators-trim-perennial-stems-in-their-first-winter](https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/garden-cleanup-for-pollinators-trim-perennial-stems-in-their-first-winter)
I cut the extra stems into smaller pieces and drop them onto the ground around the plant, or if there’s a lot of material I’ll pile them somewhere in the back of the garden. Then, if I have a place where a lot of weeds are sprouting, I’ll mulch.
I don’t touch anything anymore. The old material helps you remember where you planted things and animals will continue to make use of the material. The only reason to do anything is for human reasons, at the expense to wildlife.
Sping is not fully here yet, as I expect some snow in the coming weekends for me in CT/6a.
Right now the conservation districts are currently active and allowing pre-orders for their spring plant sales, so it’s now the time to stock up on plants for the new year.
My mother has our local conservation district offering 8′ fruit trees, so she’s got her eye on a [Cherry tree](https://www.gardenia.net/plant/prunus-cerasus-north-star). As much as I want to stay native, I have to give in if I want domesticated food on the property. I’m making up for it by getting native Elderberries and Blueberries. What I am stuck on now is the math for how many of each to get, as I don’t want to be trekking through the slushy yard to figure out the spacing.