do you clean up for the winter?

nightshade · #1 (**permalink**) 02-10-2005, 05:01 PM

every year i am torn between tidying up or leaving untidy clumps for the wildthings
does anyone do anything in particular to aid the overwintering ones? hedgehogs,
birds, insects, amphibians et al

henrya · #2 (**permalink**) 03-10-2005, 09:22 AM

My garden is not in any sense a 'formal' garden, but I rake the leaves off the drive and pile them in a heap for whatever cares to use it. Same applies to the wilder bits of herbage - I scythe some of them down and pile them up. I have lots of Elm suckers by the side of my drive, that I am progressively reducing, winter by winter. They get piled up for wood eating creatures. Last year I exposed a Rowan that I didn't know I had, shrouded by Elm and Blackthorn. Some of the Blackthorn and Elm gets laid to create a hedge, and some of the cut logs and branches get put into the hedge to make it denser. The rest go into a large heap that I just keep adding to.

henrya

merlinsboy · #3 (**permalink**) 13-10-2005, 10:10 AM

Yes and no would be the answer. The bits for viewing by us humans get a tidy but the world of the animal and bird is left somewhat to its own devices. Leaf and twig are "thrown in" to be used in whatever fashion the hedge dwellers fancy.
I like to think that we can share the spoils between us! Some for nature, some for the composter!

Tinkerbell · #4 (**permalink**) 13-10-2005, 11:29 AM

Here, here. I have a very small vegetable patch which includes a few cabbage and sprout plants. These have been destroyed by caterpillars - but what the heck. I'd rather see butterflies etc.