As spring temperatures begin to rise, many gardeners feel the urge to head outdoors and start cleaning up their yards. However, many experts advise patience instead.
Experts say both plants and insects are still sleeping. They warn if they are not fooled by mother nature’s teasing temperatures, you should not be either.
Hold off on extensive yard maintenance until daytime temperatures remain consistently above 10°C. Many beneficial pollinators — including native bees, butterflies and moths — spend the winter sheltering in plant stems, beneath fallen leaves or just under the soil. Starting cleanup too early can disturb these insects while they are still dormant.
Instead of removing all yard debris immediately, homeowners can take a gentler approach. A thin layer of leaves, covering about 10-20% of the lawn, does not harm the grass. As the leaves decompose, they add nutrients and improve soil structure.
If leaves accumulate in heavier amounts, they can be lightly raked and moved into garden beds where they act as a natural mulch. Leave the leaves whole rather than shredding them, since insects may still be hiding within them.
Gardeners should also avoid cutting flower stems down to the ground. While old flower heads may be removed, leaving stems about 30 cm to 45 cm (12 to 18 inches) tall helps provide nesting spots for early-season pollinators.
To allow early bloomers such as violets, clover and dandelions to flower provides essential food for pollinators emerging after winter, delay the first lawn mowing.
Once mowing begins, grass should be at least three inches tall, with mower settings adjusted to about 9 to 10 cm (3.5 to 4 inches). Maintaining taller grass supports deeper roots and helps suppress weeds.
Early spring is also an ideal time to plan landscape improvements, such as adding native plants and creating habitats that support pollinators throughout the growing season.