Ep 246 - Early Spring Tending: What to Keep, What to Clear

Sometimes tending isn’t about removing—it’s about redistributing, restoring, and making space for what’s ready to grow.

As winter loosens its grip, early spring invites us to tend—clearing what’s too heavy, redistributing what can nourish, and making space for what’s ready to grow.

In this episode, I share what I’m learning as I step into full groundskeeping—raking matted leaves, supporting soil recovery, and embracing a “tapestry lawn” of violets, clover, plantain, and dandelions.

We explore:

·         When leaves help—and when they hinder 

·         Why clover and “weeds” deserve a second look 

·         What Creeping Charlie teaches about balance 

·         And how tending the land mirrors tending our lives 

🌱 Perhaps most of all, early spring reminds us:

• Not everything needs to be removed
• Some things need to be shifted
• And something good is ready to grow

Link to the Companin Blog Post: Early Spring Tending: What to Keep, What to Clear 

🌼 Related Episodes and Blog Posts to enjoy: 

·    Ep 157 Benefits of Plantain and Dandelion Weeds

·    Ep 168. Pollinators Love No-Mow Clover Lawns

·    Ep 203 - A Violet and Pansy Season of Happiness

·   Plantain & Dandelion Benefits - Blog Post

·  Violet & Pansy Season of Happiness - Blog Post 

Garden Dilemmas? Visit: https://askmarystone.com

Thank you for tuning in!

More about the Podcast and Column:

 Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

 It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone 
Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone.com
Direct Link to Podcast Page

Transcript

Ep 246. Early Spring Tending: What to Keep, What to Clear

Sat, Mar 28, 2026 8:24PM • 11:57

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

Garden tending, early spring, leaf management, nature balance, pollinators, lawn care, invasive species, wildlife habitat, Lyme disease, garden therapy, seasonal changes, plant benefits, soil nourishment, personal growth, community support.

SPEAKERS

Mary Stone

Mary Stone  00:00

Mary, Hello, fellow lovers of all things green. I'm Mary Stone, and welcome to garden dilemmas, delights, and discoveries. It's not only about gardens. It's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learn from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other, we have lots to talk about.

Mary Stone  00:26

 Hello there. It's Mary Stone on the screen porch with Jo Lee. She had to come out here. I've been working on my tax time. That's always a big, consuming project, but it's nice to be out here with you. We've been flip-flopping in temperatures. It was almost 70 yesterday. I was out there tending to some things we'll be chatting about today, and now it's like 43 degrees. So, we're back to the chill. I did put my shovels away. I think we are done with the snow season, although one year we had a pretty nice April Fool's Day snow. So one never knows what surprises are in store. 

Mary Stone  01:00

I want to thank those of you who reached out after our last chat, what the roadside reveals lesson of belief. I saw Susan on the road here, not far from me, picking up trash. She's a good friend of mine. I wonder if she read the column. I'll have to ask her. It's funny how a simple act of picking up what doesn't belong really does something to help us shift from frustration to contribution, and there's something deeply grounding about being part of the solution, don't you agree? And so today, we're going to talk about other tending, what we care for and what we clear away, and how those simple acts, no matter how small, help steady us through times of change, and it starts like this. 

Mary Stone  01:45

Hello, fellow lovers of all things green, we've had some productive rains here lately, making up for the below-average precipitation, which feels a bit surprising given the above-average snowfall we experienced this winter. Nature has a way of balancing herself when we don't interfere. Even when things feel out of sync, there's often a quiet correction underway. Speaking of tending, this season is bringing a new chapter for me. Now that it's just me and Jolie, I'm taking on all the grounds, keeping not just the gardens. And I'll have to admit, it feels a little intimidating. There was a time when I focused mostly on the garden beds, the creative aspects, and then nurturing what was already growing. But now I'm stepping into the full picture, all the natural areas I adore that frame the gardens. And as I've begun, I've discovered something unexpected. There's enjoyment unfolding here, too. 

Mary Stone  02:48

Over the weekend, I began what I'll call reconvening with the leaves that had gathered over the winter, heavy, wet, and matted down in certain areas. I've always been one to let the leaves be, let the wind carry them, let nature decide where they land and how they return to the soil, and truly, Mother Nature does an extraordinary job. But when leaves collect too thickly, especially under snow, they can form a dense layer that inhibits growth. They block air, water, and light, and even in a lawn like mine, which is far from traditional, that matters, because my lawn is more of a tapestry filled with things I adore, violets, Clover, plantain, dandelions, not weeds in my eyes, but companions. We spoke about these beauties in Episode 157, the benefits of plantain and dandelion weeds. I put that in parentheses, and then there's another story in Episode 203, Violet and Pansy, Season of Happiness. 

Mary Stone  03:55

Plantains and dandelions, often overlooked, are edible, nutrient-rich, and offer important benefits for pollinators and people alike. And then there's violets. How I adore the common blue violet, Viola sororia, with those charming little faces; both the flowers and leaves are rich in vitamins A and C. Yes, they are ambitious, but early pollinators rely on them too, and they are lovely in the garden. And then there's white clover Trifolium repens, another favorite of mine. We chatted about her in Episode 168, how pollinators love no-mow Clover lawns. It supports pollinators, enriches the soil, and creates a softer, more sustainable lawn, though I admit it is not native. It was brought here by early European settlers who considered Clover lawns the norm. It's a mat-forming herbaceous perennial about four to six inches tall, so it doesn't need mowing, unless you want to keep it neat and tidy, with adorable white flower little heads that bees love. It's frequently used as a cover crop as well, because it fixes nitrogen in the soil, and it also provides good forage for livestock. 

Mary Stone  05:13

Clover was once a standard part of lawn seed mixes, before falling out of favor with the rise of chemical weed controls that didn't distinguish between nuisance plants and beneficial ones, another reason to stay away from those nasty chemicals in your lawn. Thankfully, Clover is making a welcome return, but even with all this appreciation, there's still a balance to be kept. So, I began gathering the heavier leaf layers, raking them into tarps and dragging them into the woods. And as I did, I realized something I wasn't just removing, I was redistributing. Those leaves are now covering areas of disturbed soil, places where boulders were harvested for the beautiful wall now gracing the front of my home;  Areas that needed healing, the leaves will decompose there, returning nutrients to the soil, supporting new growth. 

Mary Stone  06:12

And at first, I worried about the critters nestling within those leaves, but then it occurred to me, I wasn't removing them. I'm gently moving them along with their shelter, mindful of the unseen lives intertwined with our own. I am also picking up sticks in the woods and making brush piles in some of the divots to provide habitat for wildlife. There is such therapy in this kind of work, an act of restoration, a rhythm, a grounding. Garden dilemmas? Ask Mary Stone.com.

Mary Stone  06:51

Yes, indeed, it was a therapy being out there, and I still have more to do, but I am reminded and very much aware of the ticks that are out there. And since I had Lyme disease last August from a bite I've never seen. I do look closely now, and I just don't want fear to get in the way. I stay present and careful but not consumed. But I have to admit, I strip my clothing when I come back in, in case those tiny hitchhikers have joined me. There's a little humor in that, too. 

Mary Stone  07:20

Now I am still learning. There's a garden tractor waiting for me to learn how to use it. Soon, I'll be using the mulching blades to return the remaining leaves directly to the lawn, allowing them to nourish the soil where they fell. I've also ordered white clover seeds to help fill in the areas disturbed by construction. I have a feeling I know which ones will take the lead. Clover has a way of finding its place. 

Mary Stone  07:45

And then there's another character in the garden, creeping Charlie (glaucoma. Hydraco), also known as ground ivy. It's one of those plants that remind us that not everything that grows is meant to stay; though it's edible, it's used in teas, salads, and pesto. I heard it tastes similar to sage, mint or thyme, but a little more bitter. But I can't say that I've tried it, and frankly, it's a bit much. Those purplish-blue flowers over the scalloped-edged, kidney-shaped leaves spread so aggressively, and they form dense mats that crowd out other plants. It's one thing to have it in your lawn, but it overtook my vegetable garden. No kidding, so much so that I used cardboard to squelch some of the areas that weren't decorated by vegetables. 

Mary Stone  08:34

Like so many of the ambitious growers, they were brought here by early settlers. They're native to Europe and Asia, so they've naturalized and often choke out native species. And perhaps there's a lesson in that, too. In gardens and in life, we're constantly discerning what belongs, what enhances, and what, despite its merits, needs to be gently held in check. Sorry, creeping Charlie, though I like your name, I am weeding you out.

Mary Stone  09:09

As I've been working outdoors, tending to the land, I'm also tending to my heart. This season of change I've been moving through is not without sorrow. I still feel deeply the loss of someone I loved, and I find myself hoping and praying that he, too, will find his way forward toward healing. But I'm also beginning to feel something else, a quiet return, like the early bloomers pushing through the early-season soil. A friend of mine, Vicki Johnson, recently shared photos of her garden. Snowdrops and crocuses are so plentiful, and she mentioned how they close their blooms in colder temperatures, protecting themselves until the warmth returns. And isn't that something? Even in their retreat, they are still alive. Still preparing to open.

Mary Stone  10:03

She also reminded me of the Tommies, crocus, thomasinianus, those early crocuses that seem to appear as if by magic, and lawns and woodlands. I never planted them, but I have them all over the place, and I adore them, too. They spread not only by seed but also by underground corms, peacefully multiplying, naturalizing over time with persistence and presence. And perhaps that's where I find myself now, not forcing anything, not rushing, simply tending to what needs, tending to some difficult things. I know you have them too but let us clear away what no longer serves and nourish what remains, trusting that beneath it all, something good is ready to grow. 

Mary Stone  10:52

So, thank you, kind listeners, truly, for being here with me, for your kind words, your shared stories, and for your companionship along this path, like the leaves returning to the soil. We, too, are part of this cycle, and in that, there is hope. So, until next time, keep tending to yourself and your corner of this Garden of Life and share it with your neighbors and your friends and even people you've never met before, give them a smile. See you next time on the screen porch.

Mary Stone  11:26

You can follow Garden Dilemmas on Facebook or online at GardenDilemmas.com and on Instagram at the hashtag. Mary Elaine Stone. Garden dilemmas delights and discoveries is produced by Alex Bartling. Thanks for coming by. I look forward to chatting again from my screen porch and always remember to embrace the unexpected in this garden of life. Have a great day.