Cheryl Holmes+Followthe fall clean-up mistake that causes spring pest explosions Most Americans clean their yard in fall by raking everything to “make it look tidy.” But here’s the truth: over-cleaning your garden creates the perfect environment for pests next spring. Why? Because beneficial insects overwinter in leaves, stems, and debris. Ladybugs, lacewings, predatory wasps — all the good guys. If you remove everything, the only insects left next year are the bad ones. Here’s the professional gardener version of fall clean-up: Leave a 2–3 inch layer of shredded leaves in beds Leave hollow stems on perennials until March Rake paths, but not the actual garden beds Pile leaves under shrubs to protect roots Only remove diseased material — nothing else Then in early spring (late March/April), cut everything back. The difference? My aphid population dropped by 80%. My roses looked cleaner. My veggies had fewer early pests. Fall clean-up shouldn’t be “make it spotless.” It should be “set up next year’s ecosystem.” #Gardening #PestControl10Share
