Crossword Genius

Strips back yard when it's very quiet (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sleepy

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'quiet' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'strips back yard' is the wordplay.
'strips' becomes 'peels' (peeling is a kind of stripping).
'back' is a reversal indicator.
'yard' becomes 'y' (abbreviation).
'peels' written backwards gives 'sleep'.
'sleep'+'y'='SLEEPY'

'when it's very' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sleepy that I've seen before include "in retirement?" , "Is inactive" , "Drowsy; indolent" , "Drowsy - without excitement" , "One of the Seven Dwarfs" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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