Dolee Says Wait to Tidy-Up Those Gardens!
Though the weather is warming and we’re eager to prepare,
All our lovely gardens for fruit and flowers to share,
We must not be too quick, for the critters that are waking,
Need all that unsightly cover that old plants and leaves are making
If you wake them too soon, things will just be a mess.
No food to eat, no plants and flowers to help build their nests.
Some bugs are good and most are a snack
For other bugs, birds, and frogs and that is a fact.
Make sure its consistently 50* degrees before you take the leaves
They’re hiding beetles, caterpillars, ladybugs and even sleeping bees.
Bugs are already in trouble, so we should help them if we can
Helping protect the bugs means helping to protect our plants.
Check out these links for more spring garden clean-up information!!
U of M Extension Bee-Friendly Garden Clean-up
Xerces Society Spring Garden Clean-up
Horticultural Society Garden Clean-up Reconsidered
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