Pruning perennials is a key gardening job to tick off before winter sets in, but according to the experts, many of us are making a common mistake when cutting them back.
'Whilst you might want to trim longer stems and dead flowers off during the autumn, leaving perennial plants in beds and pots to rot down naturally during the winter months has a great benefit to wildlife – and also helps enrich soil,' says Lucy Taylor from Vine House Farm Bird Foods, who urges gardeners to step away from the secateurs.
Leaving your perennials to stand through winter returns nitrogen and carbon to the soil. Plus, it provides essential shelter for insects and birds when foliage is sparse.
'The benefit to wildlife comes from the fact that the ground immediately below the rotting vegetation is at least partly protected from frost, with this allowing invertebrates such as insects to shelter or hibernate, which in turn become food for birds,' adds Lucy.
'Worms will also remain closer to the surface of the protected ground as they consume the rotting vegetation, which then also makes them food for birds, including robins and blackbirds.'
As well as perennials, fallen leaves also come in handy, offering vital food and protection to hungry wildlife visitors.
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'We've long had a bit of an obsession in the UK for clearing up fallen leaves in our gardens and then disposing of them, but attitudes are changing,' adds Lucy. 'Create piles of leaves in the corners of your garden, spread them onto borders, or, except for paths and patios, just let them remain where they've fallen.'
You could also collect leaves and store them in a bin bag until next year. This will create a free, homemade mulch for you to use around borders in spring.
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