Leave the Leaves
FREE FERTILIZER… it grows on trees! This fall do less and benefit more - leave the leaves.
Nature doesn’t waste a thing. In autumn deciduous trees and shrubs drop leaves at their base. This layer of decomposing mulch helps protect their roots through the winter and recycles soil nutrients to feed roots into early spring.
There are tons of benefits for you and your plants when you skip raking and blowing away fallen leaves besides just saving yourself from a back-ache:
resists the sprouting of new weeds
replenishes the soil with nutrients
retains moisture from evaporation
buffers drastic temperature changes for sensitive roots
reduces landfill waste and leaf blower pollution
cuts down on cost of “fall cleanup” services
provides food and shelter for many helpful microbes and critters that contribute to healthy landscapes
What? You didn’t know some of your favorite animal helpers rely on those fallen leaves? Birds, turtles, salamanders, frogs, fireflies, butterflies, earthworms, and healthy fungi and bacteria are all displaced when you don’t leave those leaves.
Oh you’re concerned that the leaves will smother and kill your lawn? This is unlikely but in cases where drifts gather large piles too big to break down naturally just go ahead and mow the leaves into perfect organic mulch. Your grass will thank you!
Worried about nosy neighbor complaints? Set an example in your neighborhood, educate folks who are still sacrificing the health and safety of our environment and our families for the sake of “perfect” lawns. Change has to start somewhere!
