When it comes to preparing yards for the fall and winter, in addition to planting for next spring, gardeners can do many things to protect the beneficial insects and wildlife that help support gardens.
NatureScaping of Southwest Washington President Meredith Hardin says insects and small animals help gardens in various ways, from pollinating plants to improving soil conditions and maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Hardin said a lot can be done around the garden and backyard habitats ahead of and during the autumn season to ensure helpful insects and wildlife along with plant life survive and thrive for the next spring bloom.
First, Hardin encourages gardeners to “embrace the messiness.”
Rather than cleaning out fallen leaves, sticks and branches, Hardin advised gardeners to gather the organic plant matter to help aid insects, reptiles and amphibians survive over the colder months. While it may look messy, placing 2 to 3 inches of organic material in bare spots of gardens and yards will help beneficial wildlife live for next spring’s bloom season by keeping them warm and hidden from the elements. She said it is important that the organic materials have not been exposed to pesticides.
Hardin added that the organic matter needs to remain a couple of inches away from trees and shrub stems so the bases of those bigger plants do not rot, but covering any bare earth is crucial for insect survival.
“For insects and wildlife, birds and snakes, all that, you want to have layers,” she said. “Whatever you can do with that in mind [will help]. Rockeries are really good for amphibians and snakes. For reptiles, having a wood pile somewhere on the property where it won’t bother you is really good for shelter.”
Preparing the landscape for the winter is when the messiness begins, Hardin said. To prepare the NatureScaping wildlife botanical garden, Hardin said the preparation work in the fall for the winter months consists of supporting insects, smaller critters and avians.
“What we do is we are very much focused on wildlife, insects and all the way up the food chain. We want to be thinking about what they need over winter,” Hardin said. “You need to leave your leaves in the [garden] beds.”
Other things gardeners can do for the fall include planting. When it comes to planting seeds in the fall, some vegetables tolerate the winter months, but Hardin said the majority of seed planting in autumn is best done with native plants.
Seeds from plants native to the Pacific Northwest region often require cold stratification, the process of exposing seeds to cold and moist conditions to break down the seed so they can germinate come springtime, which can be achieved over the cold months as frost forms on the top layer of soil.
Another thing to do earlier this autumn, Hardin said, is to plan out the garden, prepare the desired space for vegetables and move plants if needed, prior to steady rain.
“Any areas that you can bring in biodiversity — so bringing in pollinators, your native plants — this is a great time to do that,” Hardin said of the fall season.
In the process of creating a larger garden or habitat, some property owners may be required to consider removing portions of their grass yard, or at least, plant around the edges of the home and yard, Hardin said.
Creating a new habitat or garden in the fall will allow new plants to establish themselves in the landscape. Planting a live, grown plant in the fall allows the roots to become established in the soil as well as gain nutrients from organic matter seeping into the ground with rainwater.
Planting different sized plants will also help small wildlife survive in the garden and habitats, Hardin said.
NatureScaping, located at the CASEE Center, 11104 NE 149th St., Brush Prairie, offers year-round classes for gardeners of all experience levels.
On Saturday, Sept. 21, gardeners are invited to learn about the vital role of native bees in the ecosystems by expanding property borders or filling in underused areas with a pocket meadow — planting native wildflower seeds that would germinate the next spring. Kyle Roslund, founder of the Vancouver Bee Project, will share tips to help prepare for and create beautiful, pollinator-friendly meadows in a yard, along with sustainable gardening practices.
The class will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 21, in the CASEE Center, Building B, Room 205,11104 NE 149th St., Brush Prairie. NatureScaping classes are free for members — $25 per year, $15 for seniors or $15 per class for nonmembers. Registration is required by emailing info@naturescaping.org or marlene52ns@gmail.com or by calling 360-737-1160.
