On a sunny spring day when the thermometer tops 50, some of us get the urge to go out and clean up the yard.
Fifty is kind of a magical number in the natural world, too.
Morel mushrooms pop up when it’s over 50.
Spotted salamanders migrate from their burrows to breeding ponds on the first rainy evening over 50.
Wild garlic emerges in the woods.
In reality, this magic requires more than just one 50-degree day--more like a week’s worth to raise soil, water and night-time air temperatures.
That’s why it’s better to leave the leaves and stems from last year’s plants until average temps are over 50 for a week or more. Insects may still be developing inside the stems and leaf litter.
Like the Luna Moth, among others. It’s a pale green moth about the size of the palm of your hand. Their cocoons rest in leaf litter all winter. If the leaves are burned, raked or blown into piles, the moths and other insects might not survive.
You’re not fond of insects? How about birds?
If you like birds, remember that birds need insects. About 96 percent of Michigan birds depend on insects to feed their nestlings. Even birds you see eating seeds at your feeder are feeding their young insects, not seeds. Baby birds need the easily digested protein and fat insects provide.
So on that occasional tantalizing sunny day—maybe today—go outside and watch birds. You can clean up your yard in a few weeks.
