10/22/2026
🕷️🐝 Creepy? Maybe. Something to fear? Not necessarily!
Spiders, beetles, bees, moths and countless other creepy crawlies are doing some pretty important work around us. Some pollinate plants, some help control pest populations, and others break down organic material and return nutrients to the soil.
But when temperatures drop, where do all those little creatures disappear to? 👻
Many haven't disappeared at all! They're spending the colder months tucked inside hollow plant stems, beneath leaves, under bark and in other protected places.
That's why you don't necessarily need to give every part of your landscape a frighteningly thorough cleanup this fall. 🍂
Consider leaving some leaves beneath trees or in landscape beds and allowing native plant stems and seed heads to stand through winter. They can provide shelter for insects while seeds offer food for birds and other wildlife.
A landscape doesn't have to look perfectly "clean" to be healthy. Sometimes what looks a little spooky and messy to us is a cozy winter home for something else. 🕷️🏚️
This Halloween, don't be afraid of the creepy crawlies — give them somewhere to hide! 🎃
