We're in Shropshire

Yes, that way you and nature get the most benefit. Perennials provide great visual change, seed, and bedding/nesting materials, and those things that you clean up in the spring break down more quickly in your composter as the process has already started in your yard. Also, if you have a flower garden, the odds of having flowers reseed themselves greatly increases.

yes, your Mary is correct

In Gods tantrum of a climate North Dakota we no-till farm to trap snow and conserve moisture. In the gardens it also insulates and prevents early ground thaw, a major cause of winter kill. As 'askdryad' mentioned it also benefits annuals that reseed. The down side is that it can harbor insects and disease. In my case it also harbors beneficial insects. Any plants susceptible to disease have long since been replaced by resistant varieties or just plain replaced. I gave up years ago trying to grow square plants in round holes. RScott

Yes. She is probably right about most things.