Don’t Clean Up Your Yard Yet: LI Conservancy Shares Winter Garden Advice

SAYVILLE, NY — Winter on Long Island is more than a dormant season for gardens — it is also a prime time for residents to care for their yards while supporting local wildlife, according to the Long Island Conservancy.

The organization is encouraging homeowners to use the quieter months to nurture greenery, observe nature and make small changes that can have a lasting environmental impact. While grasses turn golden and bare tree branches create stark winter scenery, the season also offers fresh air, bird-watching opportunities and time for planning ahead.

“Even in the quiet of winter, your yard plays a vital role in supporting native wildlife,” Executive Director Devon Giordano said. “Winter may be cold, but with a little preparation, like leaving leaf litter and seed heads in place, residents can provide crucial support to birds, insects and small mammals while enjoying the beauty and tranquility of the season.”

One of the simplest ways to help wildlife is to leave perennials, dried stalks and fallen leaves in place through winter. Hollow stems provide shelter for overwintering insects, while leaf litter protects lightning bug larvae and small mammals such as red bats. The conservancy recommends waiting until late spring — when daytime and nighttime temperatures consistently rise above 50 degrees — before clearing garden debris so hibernating wildlife can safely emerge.

Winter dormancy also makes this an ideal time for pruning trees and shrubs. Gardeners are advised to focus on removing the “four D’s” — dead, dying, diseased and dangerous branches — along with limbs that cross or rub against one another. Cuts should be made at a 45-degree angle just above a bud or branch, and pruning should be avoided during wet conditions or if it requires removing more than one-third of a tree’s canopy at once.

The colder months are also effective for addressing invasive plants such as English ivy. Even when the ground is frozen, ivy can be cut in a circle around a tree trunk and left attached to die naturally. Once the soil thaws, roots can be removed with long-handled tools to reduce strain and prevent regrowth. The plant’s dense coverage can weigh down trees, increase wind vulnerability and provide cover for rodents linked to higher Lyme disease risk.

For gardeners looking ahead to spring, winter is an opportune time to directly sow native plant seeds that require natural cold stratification. Species such as Eastern red columbine, butterfly milkweed and Black-eyed Susan can be planted now, with blooms often appearing in the following growing season. These native flowers provide essential nectar and pollen for early pollinators, including hummingbirds and beneficial insects.

The season also allows residents to observe which plants attract birds and wildlife. Leaving seed heads from native asters, Joe-Pye weed, mountain mint and ornamental grasses can provide a vital winter food source. Evergreens such as American holly, inkberry holly and winterberry holly produce berries that sustain birds, while larger trees like Eastern red cedar and Eastern white pine offer shelter from harsh weather.

The conservancy encourages residents to use winter not only for maintenance, but also for reflection and planning, turning the colder months into a foundation for healthier gardens and ecosystems in the year ahead. For additional resources and information on local conservation efforts and invasive species common to Long Island, residents can visit the organization’s website.