Use a dry winter day to clear paths, tend garden tools and decide which parts of the beds can wait until spring. You do not have to cut every perennial stem or remove every leaf. Some standing seed heads feed birds, while leaves can protect soil if they are kept away from places where they smother plants or lawn grass.
Pick up what causes trouble
Wind keeps dropping sticks, leaves and nuts long after the fall cleanup feels finished. Take a walk around the lawn and beds when they are not covered with snow. Clear branches and debris from paths or places where you need to walk, and look for leaves that have collected in a thick, wet mat on the grass. There is no need to make every bit of soil bare to call the job done.
Leaves can be a useful mulch when they are broken into smaller pieces. Smaller maple leaves are easier to use this way; large, leathery oak leaves may take longer to break down. If you have a heavy layer, shred it or move some rather than piling whole leaves tightly over small plants. See how to mow and use fallen leaves for another way to handle them.
Leave some seed heads for birds
Brown stems may look untidy, and it is fine to cut back dead top growth when that suits the bed. Leave some standing if you can. Black-eyed Susans and purple coneflowers, also known as echinacea, can hold seeds that birds use in winter. A small patch of standing plants does not have to dictate the look of the whole garden. Our article on Black-eyed Susans offers more on one of these flowers.
When you do cut stems, avoid disturbing any new shoots near the base. Some perennials remain visible at ground level in winter, and others are resting out of sight. If you are unsure what is planted in a bed, wait until you can see the growth clearly.
Top up mulch and look after tools
Winter can be an easier time to spread mulch because there is less foliage in the way. A modest layer helps cover bare ground, but keep it clear of plant crowns and tree trunks rather than heaping it against them. Read mulch basics before adding more to a bed that already has plenty.
Clean soil off shovels and pruners while there is less planting work to do. Inspect them for damage before putting them away, and take care with sharp edges. If the volume of fallen material is more than you can manage, a landscape crew can help with the cleanup without stripping every bed of its winter cover.
