How Delaying Spring Garden Clean Up Helps Birds

A healthy garden is more than just healthy plants growing in high-quality soil. The trick to keeping a long-lasting and self-maintaining garden is by cultivating an ecosystem. This includes encouraging beneficial microbes and insects to set up shop for good. 

It also means having abundant birds making their homes in your yard. These animals help clear your garden beds of harmful pests. They also help pollinate your plants and leave nutritious natural fertilizer when nature calls. 

Although they have many benefits, many gardeners ignore them. Instead, give them a habitat that encourages them to live in your garden permanently. One of the best ways is by holding off on spring cleaning until the time is right. Let’s dive into the reasons why it’s important to delay spring clean-up for your feathered bird friends. 

The Long Answer

By holding off and starting spring cleaning at the right time, you’ll give your garden ecosystem time to flourish. Let’s look at what happens when you start spring garden cleaning too early and the best time to start. 

Overwintering Insects

Many species of beneficial insects native to your region overwinter instead of migrate. Throughout your garden, piles of leaves and downed branches hide these helpful critters. 

Moths such as the luna moth and butterflies such as fritillaries and swallowtails form protective cases to hide in. In the fall, these insects make cocoons, called chrysalids, while in their caterpillar form. They attach these pouches to the undersides of leaves and dead branches in your yard. 

Many species of bees and fireflies will also make their home in your yard. They’ll crawl into hollow spaces in bark, sticks, and branches to overwinter. Some even hide in narrow spaces between grass stems. 

By cleaning up your yard too early, you’re destroying your yard’s protective habitat before these insects emerge. You’ll have fewer pollinators and fewer feathered friends. 

The Effect on Birds

By removing plant debris too early, you’re eliminating pollinators and destroying the food source for many species of birds. In nature, migrating birds flock to areas with plenty of food. When insects emerge from their hibernation in spring, they become food for these feathered creatures. 

Birds also love using plant debris as cover when they’re foraging or hiding from predators, so delaying your spring clean-up significantly helps them. Old seed pods and other plant debris are also food sources for some species. 

If you clear out your plant debris and leaves too early, you’ll probably notice a severe decrease in bird activity. Besides looking beautiful, there are many reasons why losing feathered flying creatures is a bad thing for your local ecosystem. 

Why Birds Are Important in Your Garden

Birds thrive in gardens with abundant plant and insect species. They find food more easily, without having to fly far. They’ll make their nests in your yard and stay put throughout the season. 

There are many reasons why having diverse bird species in your garden is a good thing. First, they feed on many harmful garden pests such as aphids and whiteflies. Many species, such as hummingbirds, pollinate your plants, while others, like warblers, disperse seeds. 

There are even species, such as goldfinches, that consume weed seeds like thistles and grasses. Having them in your garden is like natural weed control. 

Best Time to Spring Clean

The best time to spring clean is when the temperatures are consistently above 50°F (10°C) in mid-to-late spring. This is when hibernating insects are awakening from their long slumber. Larvae and insect eggs will hatch, and butterflies in chrysalises will appear. 

When temperatures are still approaching freezing, insects will hold off from leaving their cozy hiding spaces. If your daytime highs and nighttime lows are consistently below 50°F (10°C), delay spring clean-up until it’s warmer so you can protect birds and insects.

By giving insects more time to come alive, you’ll aid your local creatures and your garden plants. Check your garden for signs of life early in spring. You should see insects emerging and swarming in your garden as your plants go through bud break. 

Always Leave Some Mess

As you spring clean, leave some leaves and small plant debris for your local flying friends. Besides using them as hiding and foraging spaces, they’ll use this plant litter to build their nests. 

Move leaf piles to the bases of trees and larger species of plants. You can also add them to your compost piles as brown waste. 

You’ll see feathery creatures using the debris to build their nests in your yard. Once you see nests in your trees and shrubs, it’s a good sign that you have a healthy garden ecosystem. 

Other Ways to Encourage Birds in Your Garden

Besides holding off on spring cleaning, there are other easy ways to encourage birds to make their home in your garden. Below are a few tricks, besides delaying spring cleaning, to bring more feathered visitors to your outdoor spaces. 

Plant Native Perennials

Native perennials such as winged sumac and Indian grass can survive in your local region without needing pesticides or any help from you. They’ll survive almost anything. The best part is that local species know this and rely on them for food, shelter, and nest-making. 

Planting native perennials gives these avian visitors a sense of home and familiarity. Along with having plenty of insects and plant debris around, native plants are the next best thing for these helpful avian guests. 

Clear Invasive Species

Invasive species, such as black elder and burning bush, can be problematic for your landscape and wildlife. They’ll quickly take over and block out helpful native species that flying creatures are accustomed to. 

Grow Diverse Plants

The more diverse your landscape is, the better it is for wildlife. This is because diverse plants offer various structures for them to use. 

Plants of differing heights and uses will attract different species. From food producers to prickly plants with hiding spaces, each species has a different function. 

Don’t Forget Trees and Shrubs

Besides popular plants, grow small trees and shrubs in your yard. These larger plants provide valuable protection and food. 

Woodpeckers will pick for insects buried in tree bark. Other species will nest in the trees and dense foliage. As always, prioritize native species such as flowering dogwood, maple, and pine. 

Avoid Insecticides

This may sound obvious, but killing off their food source is a good way to say goodbye to your feathered guests. Unless you have a pest problem that’s out of control, avoid using insecticides. 

These chemicals will eliminate beneficial insects as well as harmful ones. A better alternative is encouraging more birds and healthy growing habits for your plants. Use birds as a natural defense for your gardens. 

Build Birdhouses

Birdhouses are wonderful spaces for birds to feed and socialize. Add birdhouses around your yard to encourage multiple species to come by frequently. 

Include Water Sources

Besides birdhouses, watering spaces are important. You can build or buy fountains or create small ponds in between your beds. 

These aquatic spaces will not only provide water but also attract insects like mosquitos. As pesky as they sound, they make an excellent food source for your local feathered friends. 

Final Thoughts

Delay spring cleaning until the temperatures outside are consistently above 50°F (10°C). Never clear out all the plant debris and leave piles of leaves and twigs around your yard. 

By doing this, you’ll encourage beautiful and beneficial insects to flourish. This, along with other practices, will encourage multiple bird species to make your landscape their home.