Spring Cleanup: Delay It To Protect Pollinators, Soil, and Biodiversity
A queen bumble bee digging into the leaf litter. Countless bees and other small creatures depend on fallen leaves for protection and shelter throughout the winter months. (Photo: Steven Severinghaus / Flickr Creative Commons 2.0)
As the days grow longer and temperatures rise, many homeowners and gardeners are eager to clean up their yards, removing fallen leaves, cutting back dead plant stalks, and raking out garden beds. However, an early spring cleanup can be ecologically harmful, disrupting essential insect life cycles, depleting soil health, and reducing biodiversity. Waiting until temperatures are consistently above 50°F before tidying up your landscape allows overwintering pollinators and beneficial insects to emerge safely, supports early wildflowers, and ensures a more resilient ecosystem.
Insect Dormancy and the Importance of Waiting
Many native insects enter diapause—a state of suspended development—during the winter, relying on plant debris and the insulative properties of soil to survive. When temperatures rise above 50°F consistently, insects receive the environmental cues they need to wake up and become active.
Native bees and solitary pollinators overwinter inside hollow stems, leaf litter, or just beneath the soil surface. Mason bees (Osmia spp.), for example, often nest inside last year’s plant stems, emerging in early spring to begin pollinating fruit trees and native flowers (Mader et al., 2010).
Butterflies and moths overwinter as eggs, larvae, pupae, or adults in leaf litter or attached to dried stems. The eastern black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) and luna moth (Actias luna) often pupate in leaves that fall to the ground in autumn (Wagner, 2005).
Fireflies (Lampyridae) spend months developing in leaf litter and soil before emerging in summer. Raking and removing organic material too early can decimate local firefly populations (Faust, 2017).
As excited as us gardeners and landscape enthusiasts get, premature yard cleanup means removing these dormant insects before they’ve had a chance to emerge, drastically reducing pollinator and beneficial insect populations for the season.
Small carpenter bees are generally solitary insects. This photo, taken by Heather Holm, shows a Ceratina bee at the start of hollowing out the pith from a plant stem.
The Role of Leaf Litter in Soil Health and Plant Growth
As soil nerds, we must accept that leaves, stems, and decaying plant material play an essential role in building healthy, living soil. Rather than viewing fallen leaves and organic detritus as “yard waste,” we must frame our thinking to view them as a free, natural mulch that improves soil structure, retains moisture, and suppresses weeds.
Leaf decomposition replenishes soil nutrients by feeding beneficial microbes and fungi, which break down organic material into humus—an essential component of healthy soil (Brussaard et al., 2007).
Mycorrhizal fungi, which form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, thrive in undisturbed, organic-rich soil. Raking and disturbing soil too early can disrupt these fungal networks, reducing plant health and nutrient uptake (Smith & Read, 2008).
Moisture retention and erosion control improve when leaves are left in garden beds and around trees, preventing soil from drying out during unpredictable spring weather.
Rather than removing organic material, consider redistributing leaves and stems as natural mulch in garden beds, around tree bases, or along property edges to allow decomposition to occur naturally while providing habitat for emerging insects.
A “dead hedge” is a great way to create a border along a fence line or property line where one deposits organic material! It doesn’t have to be as tall or as large as this image, and can simple be a running pile of organic detritus. More to come on this below!
Supporting Early Wildflowers and Spring Ephemerals
Many spring ephemerals—plants that bloom briefly before trees leaf out—depend on undisturbed leaf litter for protection, moisture, and nutrient cycling. Species like trillium (Trillium spp.), bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), and trout lilies (Erythronium americanum) emerge early in the season, often taking advantage of decomposing leaves for nutrient absorption (Whitney, 1982).
Clearing away too much leaf litter can expose delicate roots to frost damage and disrupt their natural growth cycle.
These plants provide an early nectar source for pollinators, including native bees and hoverflies, who rely on them when little else is in bloom.
Myrmecochory, a process where ants disperse seeds (such as those of trillium and violets), depends on a stable, undisturbed forest floor environment (Beattie & Culver, 1981).
By allowing leaf litter to decompose naturally and waiting to rake until temperatures stabilize, you help protect these essential plants and their pollinators.
Sanguinaria canadensis, native to the eastern half of North America, is hardy in USDA Zones 3 through 8 and ranges from Canada down to Florida.
Keeping Habitat On-Site: Dead Hedges, Brush Piles, and Compost
Instead of bagging up leaves and plant debris for municipal disposal, consider keeping these valuable resources on-site in ways that continue to support biodiversity.
Dead hedges and brush piles create excellent habitat for birds, small mammals, and insects while allowing organic matter to break down slowly over time.
Composting plant debris rather than removing it ensures that nutrients cycle back into the soil, reducing waste and improving garden health.
Leaving some stems and leaf piles around the edges of your property keeps overwintering fireflies and other beneficial insects in the landscape rather than unintentionally removing them from your ecosystem.
By treating plant debris as a resource rather than waste, you’re enhancing the resilience of your yard while fostering greater biodiversity.
A Spring Cleanup That Works With Nature
Rather than rushing to tidy up the garden at the first sign of warm weather, a more ecological approach considers the life cycles of insects, soil health, and plant communities. Waiting until temperatures consistently reach 50°F or higher ensures that pollinators, fireflies, and other beneficial forms of life can emerge safely. By keeping organic material on-site—whether as mulch, compost, or habitat—you contribute to a healthier, more self-sustaining ecosystem in your own yard.
If you’re looking for an ecological spring cleanup plan tailored to your landscape, consider working with a land care professional who understands the importance of working with Nature rather than against it. We can create landscapes that support biodiversity, protect pollinators, and enrich the soil—all while maintaining a beautiful and resilient outdoor spaces.
In Albany, New York, historically, daily high temps begin consistently reaching the 50s by the second or third week of April. However, overnight lows may still dip into the 30s, so being conservative (especially when considering insect emergence), we recommend waiting until early May to begin cleanups in earnest.
References
Beattie, A. J., & Culver, D. C. (1981). The guild of myrmecochores in the herbaceous flora of West Virginia forests. Ecology, 62(1), 107-115.
Brussaard, L., de Ruiter, P. C., & Brown, G. G. (2007). Soil biodiversity for agricultural sustainability. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 121(3), 233-244.
Faust, L. (2017). Fireflies, Glow-worms, and Lightning Bugs: Identification and Natural History of the Fireflies of the Eastern and Central United States and Canada. University of Georgia Press.
Mader, E., Shepherd, M., Vaughan, M., Black, S. H., & LeBuhn, G. (2010). Attracting Native Pollinators: Protecting North America's Bees and Butterflies. Storey Publishing.
Smith, S. E., & Read, D. J. (2008). Mycorrhizal Symbiosis. Academic Press.
Wagner, D. L. (2005). Caterpillars of Eastern North America: A Guide to Identification and Natural History. Princeton University Press.
Whitney, G. G. (1982). The productivity and carbohydrate economy of understory forest herbs: Some implications for ecology and management. Canadian Journal of Botany, 60(11), 2331-2339.