The disclosed embodiments provide a method, apparatus, and system for selecting, based on feedback from previous garbage collections, a portion of a referenced memory area for garbage collection within a time window. During the execution of a software program, the system selects a given portion of a referenced memory area on which garbage collection can be completed within the given time window and attempts to complete garbage collection on at least the given portion of the referenced memory area before the end of the given time window. Next, the system selects, based on the results of the garbage collection performed during the given time window, a subsequent portion of the referenced memory area on which garbage collection can be completed within the subsequent time window and attempts to complete garbage collection on at least the subsequent portion of the referenced memory area before the end of the subsequent time window.