When can I rake my flower beds and still protect the pollinators?
Question:
When can I rake my flower beds and still protect the pollinators?
Answer:
Marjorie Peronto, Extension Educator
Great question. The longer you can leave the plant materials in place, the more likely you are to allow overwintering insects to emerge on their own time. Their emergence is directly linked to growing degree days, Understanding growing degree-days. If you can tolerate the untidiness, while your perennials are still dormant, leave them alone. When you start seeing evidence of growth emerging from the crowns, it’s time to gently remove the plant debris without damaging the tender new growth at the base of the plants. You can pile the plant debris off to the side of the garden for a while before adding it to the compost pile, to allow remaining insects to emerge as the weather warms a little more.