This fall, consider “leaving the leaves.” They're great for your garden and wildlife, and it prevents organic materials that contain precious nutrients from going to the landfill!
Why should I do this?
Leaving a leaf layer mimics what occurs in nature and provides habitat and insulation for many overwintering invertebrates (including fireflies!), amphibians, and small mammals. Be aware while digging in the fall: we accidentally disrupted this American Toad who was nestling in for the winter under several inches of leaves and soil! Luckily, everyone involved in the incident was unharmed, spare the toad's dignity.
Keeping a leaf layer has more benefits than just for wildlife though-- it's good for your soil as leaves break down and return nutrients. It also reduces waste; and maintains moisture, keeping your soil (and plants!) from drying out in the summer.
Ok, you have me convinced. How do I do it?
If you want to add some leaves to your garden this fall, here are some tips:
You don't have to leave the leaves on your lawn! Too much leaf litter build up can smother and kill lawn grass, although a few here and there are fine. Instead, rake a 3-5 inch layer onto your garden beds or around the base of trees where they can act as a mulch to prevent weeds, retain moisture, and improve soil health.
The best practice for helping overwintering insects is to use a rake and to leave the leaves whole, so as not to disrupt the insects and eggs already present in the leaf litter. However, shredding the leaves will aid in decomposition and return nutrients to the soil more quickly.
Like attracting birds to your yard? Rake leaves in a ring under your trees to help caterpillars overwinter there. Many songbirds rely on caterpillars in the spring to feed their young, and prefer a tree to perch in while foraging.
If you've already covered your garden beds and around your trees and still have plenty of leaves left, you can make leaf mulch compost with the remainder. Just pile them in an unobtrusive area and let them break down, ready for use in the spring!
Learn more with these great resources from the National Wildlife Federation and the Xerces Society:
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