Well, having been away for a few weeks, and with the snow finally gone, this was a working weekend. I leave about half my leaves, as well as perennial seed-heads, on the beds in the fall for soil improvement and as cover and food for animals and insects. That makes my fall clean-up better, but late March is pay-back time, as all of the beds must be cleaned out, ornamental grasses and perennial seed-heads cut back, and winter weeds rooted out. Here we're just getting started. Despite the pay-back, I still prefer leaving things a little messy in the fall - it's more sustainable.