During the cold College Park winters residents look forward to the warmer months with native flowers and trees blooming and migrating birds returning or passing through on their spring migration. Birds and trees depend on pollinators and other beneficial insects. The list of beneficial insects includes pollinator species such as great spangled butterflies, luna moths and native bees. One group of beneficial insects, the fireflies, a declining species, spends two years in leaf litter as larva. Along with lighting up the summer skies as adults, lava fireflies eat slugs and snails, which can cause damage to vegetable gardens.

There are several techniques that residents can use in the fall to help support the health of pollinators, which can promote the health of trees and plants on their property.

• Instead of using a leaf blower rake your leaves. Using a leaf blower to move the leaves can harm the overwintering insects and their eggs.
• Instead of removing all of the leaves, leave some as mulch piles around your shrubs and trees. Decomposed leaves return nutrients to the soil, benefitting trees, shrubs and turfgrass and can help retain moisture.
• If possible, leave some leaves untouched in some areas. This can provide habitat for overwintering beneficial pollinators that depend on the leaves. Another technique is to create an onsite leaf composing area. The leaves will eventually break down if you turn the leaves over. One could use chicken wire and 2” x 2” posts to create a leaf bin.
• Resist the urge to clean up your garden or manage part of it with less maintenance. Do not remove native plant flower stocks, like Echinacea and Black Eyed Susans. Birds will use the seed heads as a winter food source. Some beneficial insects burrow into the stalks of plants to lay eggs and overwinter as caterpillars.
• Several native perennials can be planted before the ground freezes. Consider planting a few early spring blooming native perennials. Native pollinators depend on these plants as a food source when it is still cold.
• Plant a native tree. Many native trees bloom before the leaves emerge. Each tree species has specific bees that pollinate them.

One can find additional articles on pollinators at the links below: Trees & shrubs for pollinators – Maryland Grows Pollinator Gardens | University of Maryland Extension