Every October, thoughtful gardeners from all over the nation grab their pruning shears with a goal in mind. They want their yards to look clean and organized for the winter. Little do they know that they are going to ruin the months of developing habitats for wildlife and destroy food sources that could mean life or death for hundreds of living things.
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Check PriceSure, those brown, scraggly-looking perennials may not be pleasing to the eye — but they’re not failures! They’re critical infrastructure for your local ecosystem. Here are nine plants that, before you cut them back in the spring, you should consider leaving standing for the ecosystem services they provide.
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The Goldfinch Grocery Store: Black-Eyed Susans
The dark seed centers that may appear tired and worn out? They are full of the energy-rich seed nutrition that goldfinches, chickadees, and nuthatches rely on all winter. One Black-eyed Susan can create over 2,000 seeds and you better believe the birds are waiting for the seeds to be at their most nutritious. Cut them down in October and you've destroyed a vital food resource at the time birds are critical building fat reserves for their winter survival.
Coneflowers: The Winter Buffet for Birds
Purple coneflower seeds are very rich and nutritious for birds that will be staying for the winter. Superficial birds like juncos and most pine siskins will take their time going through the flower heads and will pull out each individual seed until they are all gone. Additionally, the branches are very useful for perch places where birds can sit and watch for predatory threats and other food sources.
Joe Pye Weed: Bee Nursery of the Native Plants
While many individuals admire the soft-seed heads that draw in birds, Joe Pye weed stems are equally important because they provide essential housing for wintering native bee larvae, which are located in the stems' hollow centers. Many native bee species, such as mason bees and leafcutter bees, utilize these stems to deposit their eggs. Cutting the stems means you have destroyed one of the best pollinators that nature can provide, and they have never had an opportunity to emerge.
Ornamental Grasses: The Shelter for Small Mammals
The beautiful clumps of grass provide more than just winter texture to your landscape. They offer vital hiding spots for small mammals, reptiles, and insects that overwinter. Winter shelter is provided for voles, shrews, and good ground beetles by clumps of grass. The dense growth provides insulation from the wind and creates microclimates that can be several degrees warmer than the surrounding areas.
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Asters: Late Season Fuel For Butterflies
Asters that bloom in the fall create necessary nectar for migratory butterflies, including monarchs and their long trip to Mexico. Even after their blooming period, the winter finches and other small songbirds feed on their aster seed heads. Additionally, their stems contain pests that insects beneficial to your garden spring would provide natural pest control come spring.
Sedum: The Emergency Food Cache
When winter arrives and other food sources are covered by snow, finches use the seed heads from plants like Autumn Joy for emergency food. Additionally, these plants provide winter shelter for spiders and beetles that help keep garden pests under control during the growing season.
Goldenrod: The Ultimate Plant for Pollinators
Goldenrod helps more than 100 species of butterflies and moths because they use the plant as a host for their caterpillars. The plants aid the insects during the winter stages of their life cycles. Insects use the stems to shelter as larvae, pupae attach themselves to the old flower heads, and dense vegetation is home to adult insects. Several insects that emerge in spring are pollinators and predators of pests.
Wild Bergamot: The Supplier of Seed Specialists
Plants in the mint family produce seeds that are sized for smaller songbirds like goldfinches and siskins. The dried flower heads provide nest-building material for birds that build nests in the early spring. The square stems typical of the mint family contain larvae from beneficial insects that birds require for protein during the breeding season.
Coral Bells: An Evergreen Exception
Coral bells differ from the other plants on this list, as their evergreen foliage continues to do photosynthesis throughout winter. Leaving these plants standing during the winter provides color and shelter. Birds and beneficial insects will use the crown of the coral bells and old flower stalks, and the leaves help prevent soil erosion and increase organic matter as leaves decompose.
Crafting Wonderful Habitats for Wildlife
Your garden doesn’t have to look abandoned by leaving perennials standing. Some more intentional layering can be accomplished by cutting some down to 12 inches while leaving others at 18-24 inches. While keeping other areas by paths and sitting areas more formal, you can group seed-bearing plants into designated ‘wildlife zones.’
You can also choose to cut some stems and leave others. For a neater look while keeping habitat value, remove about one-third of each plant's stems. This way you get a purposeful looking garden and provide important services to wildlife in winter.
Your 'messy' fall garden is a great example of strategic neglect. In spring, it is buzzing with life. Birds that your seed sources helped overwinter, beneficial insects that emerge from their hidden places, and native bees come out ready to pollinate the new flowers. Your garden is the foundation of the ecosystem you are creating.
