FYI Xercis Society (good people) For Pollinators' Sakes, Don't Spring into Garden Cleanup Too Soon!

[Botany]

For Pollinators' Sakes, Don’t Spring into Garden Cleanup Too Soon!
By Justin Wheeler on 16. March 2023

Spring is here. A time when warmer weather naturally turns a winter-weary homeowner’s thoughts towards tackling outdoor chores. The first warm weather of the season may coax us out into the yard, but pollinators in your garden aren’t ready to take a chance on the first warm day.

Chrysalides still cling to last season’s dried standing plant material. While you may begin to see bumble bees and ground-nesting bees emerge as flowering trees and shrubs burst into bloom, they still need cover during chilly nights and heavy spring showers. While mining bees, mason bees, carpenter bees, and bumble bees may be out and about by early April, other species such as sweat bees are still hiding out, waiting for the warmer days that arrive in May. Meanwhile, last year’s leaf litter is still providing protection for both plants and invertebrates against late-season frosts.

So when is the right time to unleash your itchy green thumbs and reach for the rake? Unfortunately there isn’t a hard and fast answer to this question, and the exact date will vary based upon where you are in the country. To offer some guidance, consider asking yourself the following questions.



more info @ link


https://xerces.org/blog/dont-spring-into-garden-cleanup-too-soon

[riversedge]

1. I have about 6-8 inches of snow, 15 degrees and huge snowbanks in my yard and street here

in Mid Wisconsin. spring not here yet. I have to feed the birds now-I see the feeders are on MT.

[Botany]

2. Just remember the most important feeding you can do for your native birds is with native plants ....

... that support native insects which our birds use to feed their young .... native plants also have
seeds that many of our native birds such as gold finches feed on later in the season.

[2naSalit]

3. Yes!

Also, in our county there is a push in the county seat, the only city, to refrain from mowing you lawns, though they be dandelions, until I think it's May 1, to help bees. People do it, they have yard signs explaining why they aren't mowing.