I've adapted a chop and drop method of cleanup so my soils are never completely bare through winter. Garden cuttings are then covered with leaves when the trees finally shed them. By spring, a lot of the plant debris has broken down and hopefully improved the soil. I don't prune shrubs or roses "hard" until spring and some perennials like grasses or herbs don't get trimmed until spring. It does help create a screen that helps the snow collect on the beds rather than blowing right across with the wind drying the soil.
