Whether planting a vegetable garden, flower garden or pollinator garden, “site preparation is paramount,” says master gardener Susan Helm. “I can’t stress enough how important this is.”
There are thriving pollinator gardens all over Springfield, thanks to Helm and a cadre of dedicated volunteers. Examples are the Monarch Flyway native plantings at the Route 66 Experience at the Illinois State Fairgrounds and a new pollinator garden at Rotary Park. Helm and her colleagues have planted more than 30 pollinator gardens throughout the Springfield Park District and other locations. These plantings of native species beautify the community and provide important habitat for pollinators.
Helm has learned a lot over the many years she has been a master gardener and master naturalist. She has perfected a technique for site preparation in the fall using cardboard and mulch to prepare an area for planting during the following spring. This environmentally friendly and economical technique can be used for areas currently covered in grass or weeds.
The first step is to mow or use a weed whip to cut vegetation as close to the ground as possible. Do not till the soil, to avoid stirring up seeds. Collect enough cardboard to cover the area. Clean carboard with no ink is ideal, but any cardboard can be used after removing all tape and labels. Cardboard with less dye is preferable.
Lay the pieces of cardboard on the ground, overlapping the pieces by about six inches. Secure the pieces with landscaping pins. Biodegradable landscape pins are available on Amazon. Helm says metal landscaping pins can also be used and will disintegrate in three to five years.
Susan Helm guided the Rotary Club of Springfield Sunrise to create a pollinator garden at Rotary Park. Sunrise Rotary installed a Rotary Peace Pole at the area which is a designated Monarch Waystation on the Route 66 Monarch Flyway. Kerasotes YMCA is in the background. Photo by Karen Witter
Helm advises watering the cardboard before applying a two-to-three-inch layer of mulch. Then let winter do its thing. The cardboard smothers everything, attracts earthworms and feeds the soil. In contrast, using black plastic as a barrier destroys the soil and is not advised.
The cardboard will degrade over a couple of months. In the spring when you are ready to plant, simply pull back the mulch to insert the plants, which is simpler than digging holes in dirt. The cardboard, which should be left in place, will likely have a mushy consistency.
The larger the sheets of cardboard, the less labor-intensive the process. Stores selling large appliances can be a resource for obtaining larger pieces of cardboard.
Helm has other tips for fall landscaping and maintenance. If you already have a well-prepared site for planting, fall can be a good time to plant. The soil is warmer in September than in May. There is a shorter time to water in the fall before the soil won’t accept more water. Plants can become established September through November before dormancy.
There are numerous benefits of leaving perennial plants in place through the winter and not cutting them back to the ground. Many pollinator insects overwinter on the ground and in stems of plants. Dried seed heads provide food for birds. If appearance is a compelling factor, avoid cutting plants all the way to the ground and leave six to eight inches standing.
Leaves also provide many benefits, and there is a national “leave the leaves” campaign. Leaf layers benefit many species of wildlife and decaying leaves are a natural fertilizer for plants and soil microbes. Use fallen leaves as a mulch for garden beds, which will help suppress weeds and return nutrients to the soil. Leaves under native trees provide prime wildlife habitat. Find a spot to make a pile of leaves to break down over winter into compost that can be used during the next growing season.
Planting native species – whether in the fall or in the spring – is highly recommended. Plants that attract insect pollinators are especially important for healthy ecosystems. Pollinator populations have been declining dramatically. Fortunately, there is increased public interest in planting native species that attract bees and butterflies, and homeowners can make a meaningful contribution in their own yard and garden. For more information about Illinois pollinators, why they are important, what to plant and more, visit https://illinoispollinators.org/.
Karen Ackerman Witter has enjoyed seeing Monarch caterpillars and butterflies on her property after following advice from Susan Helm. She plans to use the sheets of cardboard from her recent kitchen remodeling project to prepare a currently weedy site for spring planting.
This article appears in September 24-30, 2026.
