Don't rake just yet.....

Why Leaving the Leaves Helps Early Spring Pollinators
As the weather warms and the sun lingers a little longer each day, it’s tempting to head outside, grab the rake, and start cleaning up the yard. After all, a tidy landscape feels like a fresh start. But before you clear away those leaf piles and garden debris, take a moment to consider who might still be resting underneath.​

​🍂 Leaves Are a Lifeline
For many of Ohio’s native pollinators, like solitary bees, butterflies, and moths, fallen leaves and plant material offer critical winter shelter. These creatures often overwinter as eggs, larvae, pupae, or adults beneath the leaf litter. Cleaning up too early can disturb or even kill these essential pollinators before they have a chance to emerge.
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🌸 Why Pollinators Matter in Early Spring
Pollinators play a vital role in supporting native plants, gardens, and agriculture. Early spring bloomers—like trout lily, bloodroot, and Virginia bluebells—depend on these pollinators to set seed. If we remove their shelter too soon, we reduce their numbers, and in turn, reduce the pollination services they provide.

What You Can Do:

• Delay Cleanup: Wait until temperatures are consistently above 50°F (10°C) before removing leaves and garden debris.
• Leave Some Mess: Consider leaving a corner of your yard a little “wild.” This can be a haven for bees, beetles, and butterflies.
• Use Leaves as Mulch: Instead of bagging up those leaves, use them around trees and garden beds to suppress weeds and retain moisture.

🌿 Small Changes, Big Impacts
By waiting just a few extra weeks to do your spring cleanup, you give countless pollinators the time they need to safely emerge. It’s a simple, free way to support biodiversity, improve ecosystem health, and keep your garden buzzing with life all season long.
This spring, let’s clean up with purpose—because sometimes, the best thing you can do is nothing at all.

Author

Sarah Barrow is the Watershed and Outreach Supervisor and the Cuyahoga River Basin Watershed Coordinator at SSWCD