Penn State Ag Sciences Newsline -- November 4, 2008

Your garden's debris and residue could help a winter bird (:45)

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Suggested Intro:

IF YOU'RE STILL PUTTING OFF THAT LAST GARDEN CLEAN-UP BEFORE WINTER, YOU MIGHT BE HELPING A PENNSYLVANIA BIRD, ACCORDING TO A SPECIALIST IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES. GARY ABDULLAH HAS MORE:

Story:

(:18) AS FALLING TEMPERATURES AND HARD FROSTS BRING AN END TO THE STATE'S GROWING SEASON, MANY GARDENERS CUT DOWN THE REMNANTS OF FLOWERS AND SHRUBS FOR REMOVAL OR COMPOSTING. PENN STATE MASTER GARDENERS COORDINATOR GINGER PRYOR SAYS WHILE IT'S GOOD TO KEEP A NEAT GARDEN, WE SHOULD LEAVE A LITTLE SOMETHING BEHIND FOR OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS:

Pryor Actuality:
(:16) "PERENNIALS OFTEN HAVE SEEDHEADS THAT ARE GREAT FOOD FOR BIRDS, AND OFTEN YOU CAN LEAVE SOME ABOVE GROUND WITHOUT CLEANING THEM UP UNTIL SPRING, SO THAT YOU CAN LEAVE SOME COVERAGE FOR YOUR BIRDS THAT OVERWINTER HERE, AND ALSO SOME FOOD…."

(:11) PRYOR SAYS BENEFICIAL INSECTS SUCH AS BEES ALSO CAN USE PLANT STALKS TO SURVIVE THE WINTER. BUT BE SURE TO REMOVE ANY VEGETABLE GARDEN DEBRIS, OR DISEASED PLANTS. FROM PENN STATE, I'M GARY ABDULLAH.

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Learn more:

THE GARDEN POST: "The Late Fall, Early Winter Garden"

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