Fall is a time to clean up yards and gardens to help reduce overwintering diseases and insects. It’s also the time to leave yards and gardens messy over winter to protect overwintering pollinators and other beneficials. These two statements contradict one another so which should be followed? While it’s a personal choice, here are some suggestions to consider.
Many people try to do some of each. If a plant had a disease or insect issue this past season, it would be wise to practice fall sanitation for that plant. For annual plants that die at the end of the season remove the entire plant, roots and all. For perennial plants whose roots survive winter, cut tops near the ground after a hard freeze or once the pest issue makes the plant look unattractive or the majority of leaves are affected.
Infected or infested plant debris needs to be removed from the garden and discarded. Tilling it into soil in the garden or adding it to a compost pile may kill some pests, but not very many. There is still a risk of pathogens and insects surviving. A plant that had an active pest issue this summer is best discarded.
