If you are finding ways to support pollinators in your garden, you can start right now by stopping leaf and debris clean up until after temperatures are constantly above 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit). Many butterflies, bees and other pollinators overwinter in the dead leaves and hollowed out stems of last year's plants.
According to Home Grown Organics, “if you clean out your garden now, you will literally be throwing away this year's butterflies, bees and other beneficial pollinators; spread the word and leave the leaves.” Cutting down dead plant stems too early in the spring can also disturb and disrupt plants before they have a chance to emerge. With these factors in mind, it just makes sense to wait as long as you can to do your spring garden clean up.
There are many other jobs that will set you up for gardening success if you are anxious to get out there and spread your gardening wings. A great way to start is with tool maintenance and clean-up, to be ready to go when temperatures dictate.
Clearing and composting soil and plant material from last-year’s annuals is another good job done. If you have a woody plant or two to relocate, there is no time like now, before leaf out.
Last, it is a great time to start weed control especially the early emerging varieties that were bothersome last year. A little early weeding between the debris, helps keep them in check later in the season.
In case you are wondering what seeds to start sowing with spring’s arrival, visit here.
References – Home Grown Organics and Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation