Don’t Clean Up Your Garden Yet! Give Sleeping Insects a Chance to Wake Up
As the days grow warmer and spring approaches, it’s tempting to tidy up the garden—cutting back dried stems, raking leaves, and preparing the beds for new growth. But hold off just a little longer! Beneath that leaf litter and tucked inside those hollow stems, countless beneficial insects are still resting, waiting for the right moment to emerge. Cleaning too early can unintentionally disrupt their life cycles and deprive your garden of pollinators and pest controllers.
Who’s Sleeping in Your Garden?
Many of the insects that are vital to your garden’s health spend the winter sheltering in plant debris. Some of these hidden helpers include:
Native Bees – Mason bees, leafcutter bees, and other solitary bees lay their eggs inside hollow stems, where the young develop and emerge in spring.
Butterflies and Moths – Species like swallowtails and luna moths overwinter as chrysalises or pupae, camouflaged among the dried leaves.
Ladybugs – These natural pest controllers cluster together in leaf litter, emerging when temperatures warm up.
Lacewings and Other Beneficial Insects – Many predatory insects that help control aphids and garden pests overwinter in sheltered nooks, waiting to emerge when food sources become available.
Why Delaying Cleanup Matters
Cleaning up too early exposes these insects to the elements and removes their protective habitat, potentially killing them before they have a chance to play their vital role in your garden. Leaving leaf litter and standing stems intact until daytime temperatures are consistently above 50°F (10°C) ensures that most of these beneficial insects have had time to emerge.
What You Can Do Instead
If you’re eager to get started in the garden but want to protect your insect friends, consider these alternatives:
Tidy Selectively – Focus on areas that need immediate attention, leaving native plant stems and leaves in place.
Chop and Drop – If you must cut down stems, leave them on the ground as mulch, where insects can still emerge safely.
Create Habitat Piles – Stack leaves and stems in a quiet corner of the yard to allow insects to emerge naturally.
A Little Patience, Big Rewards
By delaying garden cleanup, you’re giving nature a helping hand. When insects emerge at the right time, they’ll pollinate your flowers, keep pest populations in check, and contribute to a thriving, balanced ecosystem. So, this spring, let your garden sleep a little longer—your future blooms and buzzing friends will thank you!
Ready to make your garden a safe haven for pollinators? Hold off on that spring cleanup and watch your space come alive with beneficial insects when the time is right!
In both Stafford, KS and Denver, CO, it’s best to wait until consistent daytime temperatures reach 50°F (10°C) before doing a thorough garden cleanup. This allows most pollinators and beneficial insects that overwinter in leaf litter and hollow stems to emerge safely.
Recommended Cleanup Timing:
✅ Stafford, KS:
Ideal cleanup time is usually mid to late April, depending on spring weather patterns.
Kansas can experience unpredictable temperature swings, so monitor daytime temperatures and hold off until they stay consistently above 50°F for at least 5–7 days.
✅ Denver, CO:
Cleanup is typically safe around late April to early May, as Denver’s higher elevation means cooler temperatures and a slightly delayed spring.
Watch for consistent warm days, as late frosts or snowstorms can still occur through April.
Pro Tip:
If you’re eager to get started, consider selective cleanup—tidy up pathways and open spaces while leaving stems and leaf litter in less-trafficked areas until the temperatures stabilize.
If you do cut down stems early, bundle them in a quiet corner of the garden to allow any remaining insects to emerge naturally.
A little patience goes a long way toward ensuring your garden buzzes with life come summer!