WHEN A LITTLE PROCRASTINATION IS CALLED FOR!

It's VERY tempting to take advantage of these warm late-winter days to perform our spring garden cleanups, but we recommend that you hang on for a bit longer before starting. Remember that it's still very early and temperatures will continue to fluctuate well into April and even early May. Here's what we advise:

1. Wait to do any spring cleaning until OVERNIGHT temperatures are regularly above 50 degrees F.

2. Leave the leaves as habitat for animals like fireflies and nesting bumblebees. The leaf litter also provides safe landings beneath trees for forming butterflies. The leaves will also act as a natural mulch and weed suppressant.

3. Dead perennial stems can be left standing to provide nesting habitat for small native bees. If you must cut them back, leave 8 to 24 inches standing. Bees appreciate variety. You can be selective about this as well, and cut back stems at the front of your beds and leave taller stems towards the back, etc. Since many stems may not be accessible until the year after they grew, bees may need the stems standing into the 2nd year after growing. By the way, simply deadheading stems provides quick access for bees!

4. For the garden debris that you do clear out, don't throw it away! Find a quiet, sheltered corner of your yard for the debris so that any wildlife inside can continue to shelter or grow. This includes cut stems, fallen or pruned branches, and leaves that you do remove from garden beds. Bagging and trashing leaves and other debris is a death sentence for insects.

We know its hard to hold off on getting started, but use this time to plan your flower garden or sign up for your local CSA!