Fall Gardening for Wildlife

Fall is a beautiful time in Massachusetts, and it is also an important season for the wildlife that shares our gardens. As temperatures drop and flowers begin to fade, a few simple gardening choices can help provide food, shelter and habitat for birds, pollinators and other beneficial wildlife.

At Salt Box Nursery in Billerica, MA, we encourage gardeners to think beyond a perfectly tidy fall landscape. Leaving certain plants and natural materials in place can help your garden continue to support wildlife long after summer ends.

Leave Some Perennials Standing

Before cutting every perennial to the ground, consider leaving healthy stems and seed heads standing through the colder months.

Seed heads from some flowering perennials can provide a natural food source for birds. Standing stems and dried flowers also add texture and interest to the winter garden.

Give Pollinators a Place to Overwinter

Pollinators and other beneficial insects need protected places to spend the winter.

Plant stems, leaf litter and other natural garden material can provide overwintering habitat for some insects. Saving some garden cleanup for spring can make your landscape more welcoming to these important garden visitors.

Put Fallen Leaves to Work

Instead of removing every leaf from your property, consider leaving some in garden beds or naturalized areas.

Leaves can provide shelter for insects and other small wildlife while gradually breaking down and adding organic matter to the soil. Avoid allowing thick, matted layers of leaves to cover lawns or smother smaller plants.

Add Plants That Support Wildlife

A wildlife-friendly garden begins with plants that provide resources throughout the seasons.

Native plants, berry-producing shrubs, evergreens, ornamental grasses and seed-producing perennials can all contribute to a more diverse backyard habitat. Evergreens and dense shrubs can provide cover, while flowers, seeds and berries may offer food at different times of the year.

Keep Fall Cleanup Simple

Creating a wildlife-friendly garden does not mean giving up fall cleanup completely. Diseased or heavily damaged plant material should still be removed.

Instead, take a selective approach. Leave healthy seed heads and stems, keep some leaves where appropriate and allow ornamental grasses to remain standing for winter.

Small changes can help make your Billerica garden a more welcoming place for wildlife.

Fall Gardening for Wildlife FAQs

Should I leave perennials standing over winter?
Many healthy perennials can remain standing through winter. Their stems and seed heads may provide food, habitat and winter interest.

Are fallen leaves good for wildlife?
Leaves can provide shelter and overwintering habitat for insects and other small creatures when left in appropriate areas.

What plants can help birds in fall and winter?
Plants that produce seeds or persistent berries can provide food, while evergreens and dense shrubs may offer valuable shelter.

Do native plants help pollinators?
Native plants can provide important food and habitat for local pollinators and other wildlife.

Should I remove diseased plants in fall?
Yes. Diseased or heavily damaged plant material is generally better removed rather than left in the garden.

Visit Salt Box Nursery

Want to make your Massachusetts garden more welcoming to birds, pollinators and beneficial wildlife? Stop by Salt Box Nursery in Billerica and let us help you find plants and ideas for a beautiful, wildlife-friendly landscape.

Salt Box Nursery
562 Boston Road
Billerica, MA 01821
(978) 663-4348

Hours:
Open Daily: 8 AM to 5 PM