Photo by Patrick Coin Mourning Cloak butterflies overwinter as an adult in cracks in tree bark, under leaves and in other sheltered area.

With the longer days and warmer temperatures, there is an urge to get outside and into my gardens. After a long winter, it feels good to be outside, get my hands in the dirt and work. I relish the repeated pulling of the rake and bending among the beds, clippers in hand, to tidy up old leaves and stems.

But it is best to resist that urge – at least for a little longer. Spring’s first warm days are too early to start a spring clean-up. The waiting is not for the benefit of us gardeners, but for those who share our gardens. Bees, beetles, butterflies, moths, and a host of other invertebrates use our gardens for more than just the flowers. So many of these creatures need a place to overwinter. Only a few migrate. Most of them pause, in some part of their life cycle. If we let them, they can find protection in the very spaces we think are messy and full of waste in our yards and gardens.

For example, the dead leaves littering the ground are a warm, protective blanket for overwintering insect larva. Last year’s plant stem is the ideal place for some bee species to lay eggs. Stems are also sturdy supports for a chrysalis or cocoon.

Come spring, these critters also become more active. But not all emerge at once. With so many species there is bound to be diversity in their needs, temperature tolerances, and timings.

Just in New York, there are over 400 different species of bees. Bumblebees emerge from their underground winter slumber as early as late March. A handful of butterflies, who overwinter as adults, may emerge that early too. But metallic green sweat bees require warmer temperatures, emerging in mid-May.

So what do we do? When is it okay to go into our gardens and tidy up? One option is never. The old plants can break down right where they grew, giving nutrients back to the next generation of themselves, as well as providing shelter in winter.

But many of us gardeners are not comfortable with such a messy aesthetic in our yard. The general rule of thumb is to wait until the low temperatures are consistently in the 50s. In our western New York and Pennsylvania region, that is mid-May.

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, suggests some other points of reference in the human and natural calendars to help us remember. They encourage you to ask:

Have you put away your winter clothes? If you think you may need your winter coat, hat, gloves, and boots, chances are the bees will still need that blanket of leaves.

Have you paid your taxes? Even if there are warm and sunny days in late March and early April, it can still get cold at night.

Is your grass tall enough to mow? Most lawn don’t start growing until temperatures reach the 50s. Wait to tidy up until after you mow the grass once or twice.

Are apple and pear trees blooming? This usually occurs from late April through May. If you hold off on garden cleanup and let insects emerge, there will be more to pollinate those trees.

We become gardeners because we want to make places better, and in spring, we are often eager to get started. But sometimes the best thing to do in this moment is nothing – at least in our garden beds.

But there are other tasks to tackle. This spring, I’ve directed my energy into pulling Garlic Mustard, an early-emerging invasive plant. I cleaned all my pots and trays in preparation for starting seeds. Organizing the garage is next on the list.

If waiting until late spring doesn’t seem possible, don’t let the idea of getting things perfect get in the way of doing something good. If you do clean up early, there are still some ways that can benefit invertebrates.

Don’t bag the leaves and stems. Leave them loosely piled in a corner of the yard so insects and invertebrates still have shelter and can emerge when they are ready.

Focus your early spring efforts on a few spaces in your garden. For example, tidy up the front yard and leave the backyard. Consider leaving a wilder corner that you don’t clean up at all.

Questions and even criticism of your “messy” garden provide opportunities to share how important our garden spaces are for other creatures.

Another thing to do while waiting for consistently warmer temperatures is learn more about insects and invertebrates, particularly their importance in pollination. Pollinators are animals that move pollen from one plant to another, and they include bees, beetles, butterflies, moths, flies, bats, and hummingbirds. A recent study found that 22% of pollinators are at an elevated risk of extinction.

This has an impact on the natural world but also our food security and economy. One in three bites of food we take is the result of a pollinator moving pollen, which allows that plant to create seeds. Providing a place where some of these pollinators can complete their overwintering is critical to not only their survival but ours as well.

There are times when environmental problems seem too immense and daunting, and we question what we can do. It is rare that the answer is to do nothing. But during early spring, let the natural world progress as it knows how. Let creatures wake up in their own time so they can get about their important work while you wait a little longer to get to yours.

Audubon Community Nature Center builds and nurtures connections between people and nature. ACNC is located just east of Route 62 between Warren and Jamestown. The trails are open from dawn to dusk and birds of prey can be viewed anytime the trails are open. The Nature Center is open from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. daily except Sunday when it opens at 1 p.m. More information can be found online at auduboncnc.org or by calling (716) 569-2345.