The Garden is Still Sleeping…
Spring is almost here, and with the winter being oddly warm, many of us are itching to get outside, clean up the garden, and start planting! Even though we might be ready to kick things into gear and start our spring chores, our friendly neighborhood pollinators are not, and we must abide by their schedule, not ours. You might start seeing a few bumble bees cruising around spring blooming plants in late March or early April, and maybe even now, but many other species are still tucked away waiting for consistently warmer days to arrive.
So, how do you know when it’s time to start cleaning up the garden? To that, I will ask you to think about tomatoes. Yes, tomato plants! Many gardeners know that you shouldn’t plant tomatoes outdoors until overnight temperatures are reliably in the 50s. If it’s still too cold for tomatoes, it’s still too cold to clean up your garden.
If tomatoes aren’t your thing, here are a few other ways to gauge the timing: Have you packed away your winter coats and snow shovel? Is your lawn growing enough that you need to mow? Have you filed your taxes yet? If the answer to any of these questions is “not quite,” then your pollinators probably aren’t ready either.
There is still time to relax and enjoy the cooler days, or unusually warm days we’ve had this winter. If you are eager for spring, this is the perfect time to plan your garden layout, start warm-season seeds indoors, or take inventory of what you want to grow this year (and maybe avoid buying every pretty plant you see at the garden center … not that any of us have ever done that – sorry, garden centers!).
When we hold off on spring cleanup, we’re giving countless pollinators a chance to survive the winter and emerge safely. Many native bees spend the cold months tucked inside hollow stems, butterflies and moths hide in leaf litter disguised as dried leaves, and beneficial insects shelter just under the soil surface. Cleaning the garden too early can remove or destroy them before they ever get the chance to wake up. Let’s help them help us, and help our gardens thrive. If you try this approach and notice more beneficial insects (and lightning bugs -- hello!) this summer, reach out and let me know! And if you have any questions at all, please call your local Extension office. Someone will gladly help you. Happy gardening… and resting… for now!