Don't Cut Back Perennials

Summer is ending and you want to clean up the garden, but DO NOT cut down those stalks of plants that have bloomed and left seeds.

Plants like Black-eyed Susans, Salvias, Coreopsis, Cosmos, Sunflowers, Coneflowers, and any plant that has obvious seed heads, need to be left for the birds. These are natural bird feeders and the diversity of seeds is important to their dietary needs. Birds will be migrating through and these seeds are an important part of their ability to store energy. Birdfeeders do not handle all of their nutritional needs for migration.

If you just can't live with dried dead flowers, at least cut off the flower heads and leave them on the ground before removing the stalk and leaves. Rain will spoil these seeds much easier than if they were left standing, but at least you'll be leaving some. If your plants spread by seed, you will also have more plants for the following year that you can share with other gardeners.

Bird Tip:
When you clean your bird houses this Fall, put some fresh pine needles or straw in them so they can be used for roosting during the winter cold.