As fall turns into winter, there are some environmentally friendly garden practices we can implement to keep our landscapes and local wildlife healthy through our long winters here in the Harlem Valley region.

Long-range forecasts are calling for a cold, snowy winter in our area- which may send a shiver down the back of some of us. If you are like me and are a ‘snow-hound,’ you welcome the mounds of snow. Regardless, it pays to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

My first recommendation would be prune trees, shrubs, and perennials judiciously. I say ‘judiciously’ because many gardeners prune their perennials much too aggressively this time of year. Leave perennials up, even after they are hit by a frost, because birds and animals that over-winter in our area depend on these seed heads for food when little else is available. Chickadees, Cardinals, Turkeys, and many other over-wintering birds can sustain themselves in the coldest of winters if we leave Black-Eyed Susan, Sunflower, and Coneflower seed heads standing in the garden now and prune them to the ground in late winter or early spring. By doing so, we will be helping to keep our neighborhood feathered friends in good health through our predicted harsh winter.

Shrubs and trees should be pruned to keep their natural shape. Remove dead, diseased, and broken limbs first, being very careful not to remove any seeds or berries. These seeds and berries are an additional food source for our wildlife friends. Winterberry Holly and Grey-twig Dogwood are examples of native shrubs with berries loaded with protein. For example, if it were not for the Grey-twig Dogwood berry many of our migrating birds headed south would not make it across the Chesapeake Bay.

Once the garden beds are pruned, it is time to put a layer of mulch down just as Mother Nature does, in the woods when she drops her leaves, this time of year. The mulch I recommend is a combination of decomposed leaves, compost, shredded bark, and root mulch made from plants native to our region. This mulch helps to insulate the plant roots, is a natural fertilizer as it breaks down, and helps to prevent freezing and thawing temperature fluctuations in the soil.

Following these simple cultural practices will help keep our plants and our local wildlife healthy no matter what Mother Nature has planned for us this winter. What better time to give back to nature than now, when we traditionally give thanks to our bountiful harvest? Happy Thanksgiving.