Leave the stems

Last month, we talked about leaving the leaves in your yard to create natural insulation and shelter for insects and other small creatures.  

This month, we’re asking you to leave the stems!

Temperatures are dropping and gardens may look a little messy, but they’re providing important winter shelter for some of our native wildlife. Many beneficial insects like native bees, moths, and wasps use hollow or pithy plant stems for nesting. 

How can you help? 

• Skip the fall garden cleanup! Leave the standing stems from native plants, like coneflower and sunflowers. 

• In the spring, cut back stems to varying heights and leave them standing for nesting sites. 

Tidying just a little less can mean much more habitat for our native wildlife. Remember, sometimes, being a friend to wildlife means leaving nature alone.