Transforming a section of your yard into a wildflower meadow creates food and habitat for many beneficial creatures. Photo by Jenevra Wetmore.

As spring unfolds and the garden begins calling to you, there are a number of things that you can do to help care for our planet while also enjoying your outdoor oasis.

Delaying early spring yard cleanup has a number of benefits.  Leaf litter and other dead plant matter creates a welcoming habitat for a variety of beneficial insects like spiders and caterpillars, all of which contribute to a balanced ecosystem by preying on pests and pollinating the garden. Many bee species make winter homes in the hollow stems of plants that have died back for the season.  Additionally, earthworms and fungi thrive in leaf litter, aiding in the breakdown of the leaves and enriching the soil.  Leaf litter is also protection for amphibians and small mammals that seek refuge or forage for food within the leaf layer. Many of these creatures have yet to emerge from their winter homes, or rely on the protection of garden debris during cold spring nights.  If you can delay your yard cleanup until mid May, you will be greatly increasing the number of helpers you have in the garden this year.

I’m sure that you’ve heard of No Mow May, a campaign to delay mowing through the month of May to help pollinators have access to early nectar sources.  It is also a great campaign to endorse for those of us who do not love mowing the lawn and are happy for any reason to delay the chore.  There are some differing opinions on the benefits of No Mow May.  Some say that letting your grass grow for a month is no substitute for wild native nectar sources and it can be jarring for wildlife when mowing does begin.  Others argue that No Mow May is an easy action that many of us can take to create more habitat and nectar resources early in the season.  Both of these viewpoints are valid, and like most gardening decisions, taking a nuanced approach based on your individual needs is always best.  For those with a large yard, converting a section of your lawn into a permanent pollinator meadow is the most impactful thing that you can do to support beneficial insects, birds, and amphibians.  Mowing pathways through a meadow rather than mowing an entire large lawn every week is beneficial for your wild neighbors and can also be beautiful.  You’ll likely find that you have a succession of wildflowers through the seasons, and if not then what better time to try your hand at native plant gardening?  If you have a more compact space to work with and No Mow May is not a good fit for you, adding some early blooming (and late blooming) plants into your garden will help support pollinators when nectar sources are harder to find.

Once it is time to bring out the yard care tools, there are a number of options that can help support a healthy planet while also creating a beautiful garden.  How about making this the year that you switch to electric lawn care or an electric lawn care provider?  Mowing your lawn with a gas-powered machine means having to keep gas on-hand, and breathing in the damaging exhaust fumes every week.  It also means having to hear the blaring noise of your machinery through the whole neighborhood.   Imagine walking out to your garage, putting the battery into your machine, and pushing a button to start the mower.  The air around you is cleaner, your hands don’t smell like gasoline, and let’s face it – your neighbors are much happier.  Using a commercial gas-powered leaf blower for one hour produces as much smog-forming pollution as driving 1,100 miles in a car.  Switching to electric equipment will have a big impact on how much pollution you are personally responsible for, while also making your neighborhood a more pleasant place to be.

I hope that these suggestions will help inspire your garden this season.  If you have other suggestions on gardening with nature, we’d love to hear them!  Or better yet, share your ideas on your local listserv to help inspire our community.

What you can do:

• If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of electric yard equipment (or share info with a noisy neighbor who may be unaware) Sustainable Woodstock has some resources available on our website. Check out our Landowner Fact Sheet and Leaf Blower Brochure
• Are you interested in getting involved in the electric revolution? Rooted Gardens has openings for 2025! Contact matt@myrootedgardens.com for more information.  They also design pollinator-friendly gardens!
• Visit www.nwf.org/nativeplantfinder, where you can enter your zip code to see plants native to your area.
• The WUHSMS Craft Program Spring Plant Sale will be happening through the month of May, and they will host a native plant sale in the fall.  Learn more here: https://23sheere04.edublogs.org/plant-sale-information/