• Ask Mark
    • Search the Library
    • Mark’s Blog
    • eNewsletter / Subscribe
    • Books
    • Links
  • Cullen’s Foods
  • Trees For Life
  • Events
    • Gardening Communities
  • About Mark
    • Mark and Ben’s Bio
    • Book Mark as a Speaker
    • Mark in the Media
    • Contact Us
October 26, 2016

Cleaning Up, Or Not, to Increase Biodiversity

Excerpted from The New Canadian Garden, $19.99, 2016, Mark Cullen. All rights reserved. Published by Dundurn Press.

Yesterday’s gardener is what some people would term a “clean freak.” Maniacal, almost obsessive garden cleanup come autumn, however, is no way to encourage and support wildlife. Tall stems are filled with seeds, the dropped fruit are carbohydrate-packed gold mines for birds, and the foliage that will rot away over the winter into spring is home to hundreds of insects and larvae that will grow and become food for others (not to mention, return good old-fashioned nutrients to the soil as they break down).

Oct26_1

The winter garden can be an ugly place. An ugly, snow-covered expanse with no visible signs of life, save for a few of the braver birds and panicky squirrels. That is, if you cut everything down in the fall. Winter interest is a term used a lot in gardening circles in Canada. Gardeners appreciate just about anything that reminds us of the greener seasons, so that tall but robust coneflower stem is a welcome contrast to the blindingly bright white of a fresh snowfall. In its own way, the seed head of a perennial or a sunflower poking through the snow is attractive.

Oct26_2

Some plants are best composted in the fall and others are best left in the garden. There’s no one-shot recipe for this. I could not say to you: cut all annuals to the ground and leave all perennials.

Here are my recommendations where fall garden prep is concerned:

Read more in my new book ‘The New Canadian Garden’ available at independent book stores and Home Hardware.

 

← Previous post
Creating Bird and Butterfly Habitat

Next post →
Red-tailed Hawk

Search

Recent Posts

  • Signs of Spring March 27, 2021
  • Around the Acres This Week February 2, 2021
  • Around the Acres This Week January 11, 2021
  • Around the Acres This Week December 9, 2020

Mark’s Blog by Month

Ask Mark

  • eNewsletter
  • Radio/Podcast
  • Magazine article
  • Newspaper column
  • TV

Recent Tweets

Mark CullenFollow

Best selling Canadian gardening author as seen on TV, radio, online and print.

Mark Cullen
16 Oct

Tune into @1059TheRegion to hear Ben talk fall colors today with Ann Rohmer or listen online at http://1059theregion.com/ and look for THE FEED

Reply on Twitter 1449275767133773824Retweet on Twitter 14492757671337738241Like on Twitter 14492757671337738244
8 Oct

Thank you so much to @globalnewsto for having @MarkCullen4 on the "Making a Difference" segment this week. Take a look at the broadcast here: https://globalnews.ca/video/8248858/national-charity-committed-to-inspiring-tree-planting-initiatives-across-canada

Reply on Twitter 1446542309101867034Retweet on Twitter 14465423091018670342Like on Twitter 14465423091018670343
29 Jun

Bird watching isn't just a hobby, it’s an opportunity to help. Gardening expert Mark Cullen explains.

https://nexthome.ca/news/bird-watching-isnt-just-a-hobby-its-an-opportunity-to-help/1284617/

@MarkCullen4

#garden #flowers #gardens #gardenlife #nature #gardenlove #birdwatching #birding #wildlife #birdlovers #birdlife #naturelovers #birdlover

Reply on Twitter 1409878268090716161Retweet on Twitter 14098782680907161615Like on Twitter 140987826809071616117
18 Jun

Written by @MarkCullen4 for @TorontoStar, check out the top eight picks for planting in hot spots.

#LandscapeOntario #GreenforLife #GardeningTips #GardeningTrends #TorontoGardens #SouthernOntarioGardening

https://www.thestar.com/life/homes/2021/06/15/these-8-plants-are-heat-loving-sun-worshippers.html

Reply on Twitter 1405955991699701762Retweet on Twitter 14059559916997017622Like on Twitter 140595599169970176210

Comments are closed.

About Mark and Ben


Mark Cullen is an expert gardener, author & broadcaster and holds the Order of Canada. His son Ben is a fourth-generation urban gardener and graduate of Guelph and Dalhousie University.
More

Find Mark On

Sponsored Links

Highway of Heroes cullensfoods Share Agriculture Foundation Harrowsmith
© Mark Cullen. Go to top ↑