Be a Messy Gardener

Posted on November 3, 2018 by Eliza Waters

Overwintering-birds-800x524Click to learn the value of being a ‘messy gardener.’

About Eliza Waters

Gardener, writer, photographer, naturalist
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77 Responses to Be a Messy Gardener

  1. neihtn2012 says:
    November 3, 2018 at 10:18 am

    Very interesting article! We have several Bradford pear trees that deer and other wildlife feed on throughout the winter, cleaning them up in time for spring.

    • Eliza Waters says:
      November 3, 2018 at 10:22 am

      Thanks, Hien. It is becoming more popular as awareness grows. Once we’ve had a week or so of 50+ degrees in spring, clean up is permissible. Win/win. 🙂

  2. Anne says:
    November 3, 2018 at 10:20 am

    I am all for being a ‘messy gardener’ and enjoy wonderful unexpected bounties in return!

  3. sandyjwhite says:
    November 3, 2018 at 10:26 am

    A great thing to do. Goldfinches love to feed on Coneflower seeds in winter.

  5. cindy knoke says:
    November 3, 2018 at 12:11 pm

    Yes, we leave fruit on the trees for them.

  6. Alice Pratt says:
    November 3, 2018 at 2:11 pm

    “Waste not, want not”

  7. Betty Hayes Albright says:
    November 3, 2018 at 3:13 pm

    Wonderful post, Eliza! I’ve always been a messy gardener too, for the birds to enjoy the seeds. And in spring I wait as long as possible before pulling up dead bushy plants so birds can have plenty of brush for nest-making. Makes me smile to see a robin picking through the dead lobelia for comfy nesting material. 🤗

  8. Murtagh's Meadow says:
    November 3, 2018 at 3:30 pm

    I am a messy gardener and this is the perfect reason to be one!!

  9. dawnbirdau says:
    November 3, 2018 at 8:04 pm

    Beautiful photograph. Eliza, have you read The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben? It’s a really nice read.

  10. Vicki says:
    November 3, 2018 at 8:13 pm

    Thanks for sharing the article, Eliza. I’m sure if I had a real in-ground garden and owned my property, I’d be keen to share nature’s seasonal remains with the wee creatures.

    One thing I’m adamant about is not using synthetic chemicals in my tiny balcony garden.

  11. bayphotosbydonna says:
    November 3, 2018 at 8:43 pm

    A messy garden makes for happy wildlife! 🙂

  12. Kris P says:
    November 3, 2018 at 10:44 pm

    This is a good reminder, even though our SoCal wildlife doesn’t face the kind of same kind of seasonal challenges as critters in colder climates. In an effort to tidy up, I often don’t even give plants time to self-seed.

    • Eliza Waters says:
      November 4, 2018 at 9:14 am

      Thanks, Kris. I expect the lack of long term dormancy might alter this article for your climate. Often if a plant looks shot or I want just a few seeds and not hundreds, I’ll leave one or two heads to go to seed and compost the rest.

  14. CHINA ALEXANDRIA AUTHOR says:
    November 3, 2018 at 11:23 pm

    Reblogged this on LIVING THE DREAM and commented:
    ONE OF THE BEST SITES ON THE NETWORK, CHINA

  15. shamanism1 says:
    November 4, 2018 at 12:04 am

    Sage advice 🌿🍀🌲

  16. naturebackin says:
    November 4, 2018 at 1:12 am

    For me messy means enriching and enchanting. I confess to cringing at neat and sterile where nature is kept out. Hoping that more of us learn to learn from nature. Thanks for the reminder.

  17. Sue Vincent says:
    November 4, 2018 at 3:40 am

    Messy…. always been that 😉

  19. Irene says:
    November 4, 2018 at 8:16 am

    Yay! I’ve been feeling guilty about being a messy gardener because everyone around me is so much neater. Guilt is gone! Thanks. 😊

  20. Jet Eliot says:
    November 4, 2018 at 9:29 am

    I really liked this article, Eliza. Not only is it well written, but it gives good evidence of so many different aspects of how the wildlife benefit from this kind of gardening. I have watched this activity of birds for 17 years on my own property, having practiced this kind of earth-friendly maintenance, and it is astounding. So much life!

  21. Sagittarius Viking says:
    November 4, 2018 at 9:56 am

    Ooo yes! Great article Eliza. Thank you for sharing. I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend ❤

  22. Robin says:
    November 4, 2018 at 4:58 pm

    I got the notice from the Habitat Network, too. Just in time. I was eyeing the flower garden, wondering if I should start cleaning things up (it becomes a riot of weeds by the end of summer). Then a few goldfinches came flying out, and I remembered that I should leave things be for now. I don’t mind being lazy for a while. 🙂

  23. Reed Andariese says:
    November 4, 2018 at 7:35 pm

    Nice Eliza! Very informative!

  24. Val Boyko says:
    November 5, 2018 at 12:06 am

    I embraced this totally a few years ago. I love my messy garden at this time of year… and so do our critter followers. 😉

  25. Kathy Sturr says:
    November 5, 2018 at 8:33 am

    Love this Eliza! I was always a very messy gardener and it gave me comfort that even though I wasn’t at “home” during the winters, the birds could feed and seek shelter in my garden. Not sure what kind of gardener the new owner is but now I have a new garden to nurture nature.

  27. pbmgarden says:
    November 5, 2018 at 6:51 pm

    I’ve taken this message to heart.

  28. belindagroverphotography says:
    November 5, 2018 at 7:23 pm

    Excellent article. It’s nice to know that winter gardens never really sleep!

  29. AmyRose🌹 says:
    November 5, 2018 at 7:59 pm

    I let everything die back except for my roses, Eliza. I am constantly seeing deer and rabbit and birds eating in my Gardens not only in the fall but in the winter as well. I have a flower called the blanket flower that is still flowering believe it or not, but it has dead heads containing seeds which the birds eat like crazy. I do know the value of a messy Garden especially in the lean months. 😉

  30. Peter Herpst says:
    November 5, 2018 at 9:06 pm

    I’ve always been a messy gardener due to general laziness. I’m thrilled that it’s now in fashion. Now if a dust and cobweb covered house with too much stuff piled around could become trendy, I’d be right on the cutting edge inside and out:)

  31. Jen says:
    November 6, 2018 at 8:51 pm

    Absolutely loved this article Eliza, thanks for sharing!!!

  32. Jane Lurie says:
    November 6, 2018 at 9:23 pm

    Good point! You provide great information, Eliza.

  33. Julie says:
    November 9, 2018 at 11:10 am

    Great article.. messy all the way 😀 I’ve started to implement the chop and drop on my borders as well, great for the insects etc to overwinter in. Neat, highly maintained gardens are a big turn off! Bring on the wildlife I say 🙂

  34. Maria says:
    November 10, 2018 at 7:55 am

    Great reading Eliza, I had no idea it worked like this.

  35. Born To Organize says:
    November 10, 2018 at 11:43 pm

    That was a fascinating read. Thanks for sharing the link, Eliza.

  36. Tails Around the Ranch says:
    November 29, 2018 at 10:16 am

    Leaving ‘stuff’ in the garden helps both critters and my ancient back. Win-win. 😆

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