By Phran Novelli

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - What’s with the tumbleweeds of dead stuff in your garden? If you left leaves in your garden beds last fall and let perennial stems and dried flowerheads hang on so you had something to look at all winter, that’s fine. But enough already. It’s time to get out your rake and get down on your hands and knees to clear debris from around your plants.

What you’ll find is often surprising and satisfying – so much green growth! When you remove the snarl of sticks, straw, and bare branches you’ll reveal the first leaves of perennial geraniums; the stout shoots of Amsonia pushing through the soil, or whatever that is you almost forgot you planted there.

Prune dead stems as close to the ground as you can and gently pull away the debris that collects at the base of the plant. All that litter can smother plants in darkness once they’re sprouting again.

Growing plants need sun and air – and you need the satisfaction of seeing them grow bigger and greener day by day.