Fall YardScaping Tip: Leave the Leaves

Before you rake and bag your leaves, consider the many benefits of using this natural material to make your garden and yard healthier!

“Leaves are often thrown out — they’re treated as trash,” said Matthew Shepherd, director of outreach and education at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. By raking and bagging them all up, “we are inadvertently impoverishing our landscapes.”

Why are fallen leaves beneficial for the environment?

Fallen leaves provide habitat for animals

A thick layer of leaves is teaming with wildlife, insect species, pollinators, and their eggs. We can promote these helpful insect species by leaving a layer of leaves.

Fallen leaves are rich with nutrients

Dead leaves provide important nutrient to the soil. Insects feed on the leaves and help break them down, while microbes further break down the material as it infuses with soil below.

Fallen leaves can save you time and money

Why burn or trash beneficial fall leaves that can help your gardens grow and promote wildlife and pollinator habitat? Instead of the time and money spent on raking, leaf blowing, bagging, trashing your leaves, and purchasing fertilizer in the spring, use the free and natural fertilizer that fall leaves provide.

So, feel free this year to LEAVE THE LEAVES.

And remember, yard waste should be kept away from storm drains.