A gardening enthusiast has advised against tidying gardens during winter, claiming it is one of the best things people can do for nature. Helen Hutchings Cox, who posts online as Helen Likes Plants, shared her advice on TikTok, urging gardeners to leave seed heads and dead plants in place.
In her video, Cox said: “The best thing you can do for nature over winter is to just leave your garden exactly as it is, don’t tidy it up. All the seed heads and dead plants provide vital food for the bugs and the birds and the other creatures in your garden, and the decaying plant matter feeds your soil.”
Cox, who was elected to the board of trustees of the Royal Horticultural Society at age 31, encouraged people to stay indoors and “cosy up with a cup of tea” instead. Her advice was welcomed by viewers, with one commenting: “Was feeling totally guilty that everyone’s allotments are nice and tidy and mine has spent plants everywhere.”
