November 8, 2024 Pollinator Garden Fall Maintenance In the Metro area this fall, the weather has been pretty wacky with consistently warm temperatures and even a record breaking day in the 80s. However, inevitably, we will start getting arctic blasts moving down from Canada which will trigger a whole host of plant and animal responses. After the first few frosts our native plants rapidly start going dormant in preparation for deeper freezes and snow that inevitably will be upon us very soon. It is time for us to start preparing as well. Taking out the winter coats, emptying the rain barrel, turning off outside irrigation, and mentally preparing for darker, colder weather. While it can be tempting to go full-bore on last minute gardening and landscaping chores, it might be better to hold off on some of these activities in your natural area. Here is a quick list of “to-do’s” and “don’ts” for pollinator garden fall maintenance. To-Do’s DO cut and stump treat volunteer non-native trees or shrubs that invade your restoration area, paying special attention to ones that are bearing fruit. The most common invasive shrub that we manage is buckthorn. Birds love to eat buckthorn berries and deposit them far and wide to continue this invasive species’ spread. Cutting and removing at least the fruiting trees helps to slow dispersal. And it’s not too late to replace that fruiting buckthorn with a native fruiting shrub for the birds! DO spread native plant seeds in bare areas of your restoration. You can collect seeds from plants already on-site and then broadcast them in these open spaces. Additionally, the upcoming freeze/thaw cycle of winter will naturally work the seeds into the soil, ensuring they are primed to germinate come spring. DO some late season plantings! Now is a great time to plant even if your natural area is starting to go dormant. Make sure the plants are watered and they will wake up next spring and have a head-start on putting down strong roots! DO look at strategically treating cool season grasses with herbicide. As warm season plant species go dormant it is easier to spot spray cool-season grasses that are growing close by. By using this method, non-target damage is substantially reduced and herbicide use is minimized. DO hand-pull any remaining annual or biennial weeds, such as garlic mustard, burdock, mullein, narrowleaf bittercress, sweet clover, and others. First, remove any large plants with seeds, then bag and properly dispose of them to prevent further spread. For smaller rosettes, you can easily dig them up with a small spade or another garden tool. Taking these steps now will help you stay ahead of next spring’s growth, setting your garden up for success! NOT To-Do’s DON’T rake leaves! Butterflies and bumblebees will overwinter in piles of leaves so it is important to leave them where they lay! This layer of leaves can also act as natural mulch which will help your soils retain moisture and suppress weeds. DON’T mow down this year’s vegetation – even if it is losing its green luster! Native bees and other insects like to nest in the pithy stems. Your natural areas are providing critical winter shelter for a host of essential native insects. DON’T deadhead flowers! A lot of migrating birds will eat the seeds out of spent seed heads like purple coneflower, black-eyed susan, and bergamot. Common birds that visit our natural areas include sparrows, goldfinches, chickadees, and many more! DON’T use pre-emergent herbicides. These will prevent your native plant seeds from germinating and keep natural areas from filling in. This will actually lead to more non-native weed issues down the road! As fall sets in, now’s the time to give your pollinator garden a head start for winter. By focusing on key fall maintenance tasks for your pollinator garden like controlling invasives, planting native seeds, and providing shelter for wildlife, you’ll help your garden thrive year-round. With these simple steps, you’ll set the stage for a healthier, more vibrant garden when spring arrives.
