Fall Garden Cleanup - Chris Ferrero after-meeting handouts

We had such a lovely time with our October presenter, master gardener Chris Ferrero.

She has sent us a few really terrific handouts on subjects that she discussed during her presentation:

• Nesting & Overwintering Habitat

  FOR POLLINATORS & OTHER BENEFICIAL INSECTS

  The primary habitat features used by pollinators and other insects for shelter include stems and branches of trees, shrubs, and wildflowers; leaf litter; undisturbed ground; bare ground; dead wood; brush piles; and rock piles. Retaining and incorporating as many of these features as possible into your landscape (rather than “cleaning” them away) will help attract and support a diversity of bees and other beneficial insects.

Xerces Nesting and Overwintering Bulletin.pdf

Download PDF • 3.46MB

• How to Create Habitat for Stem-Nesting Bees

Xerces Habitat for Stem Nesters Brochure.pdf

Download PDF • 595KB

• How to Leave the Leaves

  The fallen leaf layer isn’t just a happy reminder of autumn, it’s also a vitally important habitat element for many wildlife species throughout the year. Many beloved insect species like butterflies, moths, and fireflies use this layer as a safe spot to wait out the winter, and others forage in and even eat the decomposing leaves. Songbirds, small mammals, amphibians and reptiles all rely on the leaf layer too. Even plants and soil microbes benefit from the decaying leaves that provide a natural fertilizer!

How-to-Leave-the-Leaves NWF.pdf

Download PDF • 504KB

• The icing on the cake: How to top off an excellent fall clean-up

Dutchess Dirt Fall Cleanup Article handout.pdf

Download PDF • 396KB

And best of all, the note-taking sheet and wrap-up notes from Chris' excellent presentation during our October meeting:

• Outline: Putting Your Garden To Bed in the Fall - by Chris Ferrero

Putting Garden to Bed Notetaking Outlne.pdf

Download PDF • 111KB

Have fun cleaning up for Fall!