Pause! Hold that rake! Don't be a Garden Murderer!

🌱 Happy Spring! The equinox is here, and as gardeners, we all feel the excitement of a new growing season. But before you grab your rake and start tidying up your school garden, I have an important warning for you.

Cleaning up your garden too early can do more harm than good! Many beneficial insects—like ladybugs, butterflies, and pollinators—are still hibernating under last year’s plant debris. If we remove their shelter too soon, we risk wiping out an entire generation of garden helpers.

Why Early Clean-Up Is a Mistake

In colder climates (zones 5 and below), many insects take shelter under leaves and dead plants to survive winter. When we rush to clean up at the first sign of spring, we remove their protection before they’re ready to wake up.

A better approach? Wait until you start seeing bees and other insects flying around. This is nature’s way of telling us that the garden is coming back to life, and it’s safe to start clearing away last year’s debris.

The Right Time to Clean Up Your School Garden

There are two main times when garden clean-up makes sense:

1️⃣ At the end of the school year (before summer break). This helps prevent mess and keeps pests from taking over while school is out.
2️⃣ Once pollinators and beneficial insects have emerged in spring. Wait until you see bees, butterflies, or other insects moving about before removing plant debris.

If your garden is too messy to plant in, you can carefully clear just enough space to start growing again—without disturbing the entire ecosystem.

Turn This into a Science Lesson!

This is a great hands-on learning opportunity for your students. Use it to teach about biodiversity, beneficial insects, and why we must work with nature instead of against it. Encourage your students to observe and question common gardening practices, helping them develop critical thinking skills.

Let’s Garden with Kindness

A thriving school garden needs patience, observation, and a little restraint. So before you reach for the rake, remember—early clean-up can harm the very creatures that help your garden grow!

Want to dive deeper into this topic? Listen to the full podcast episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6GziJZ8QHW93L1Y7hoVmnq

Happy Spring! 🌸🌿