Leave the Leaves

The layer of fallen leaves is more than just a nostalgic symbol of autumn—it plays a crucial role in supporting wildlife year-round. Many cherished insects, including butterflies, moths, and fireflies, seek refuge in this natural cover to survive the winter, while others feed on the decomposing leaves. Songbirds, small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles also depend on this leaf layer for food and shelter. Even plants and soil microbes benefit, as the decaying leaves enrich the soil with natural nutrients.

Why the Leaves Matter: Nature’s Blanket

Leaves provide essential habitat Many butterflies, moths, fireflies, and native bees rely on fallen leaves to shelter during colder months. Without leaf cover, these important pollinators and insects lose their winter refuge.

Natural fertilizer for soil health: As leaves break down, they return valuable nutrients to the soil, improving plant health and reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers.

Insulation against harsh weather: Leaf cover protects plant roots and soil organisms from freezing temperatures, ensuring a healthier garden in the spring.

Reducing waste and emissions: Yard debris, including bagged leaves, contributes significantly to landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Leaving leaves in place helps reduce environmental harm.

Leave the leaves and spread the word
(Xerces Society)

Your garden’s wild residents benefit immensely when you practice good neighbor relations, leaving things a little messy and wild. After all, when you think of what these animals need, it is best to visualize the natural areas where they have evolved. Natural areas are not manicured, sticks and leaves are not “cleaned up” and removed, grasses grow long, seed heads are left for songbirds to feed on, and seeds can fall where they might germinate.

Of course, this can be a hard pill to swallow! It may be habitual, a matter of social conditioning, or a holdover of outdated gardening practices from yesteryear—but for whatever reason, we just can’t seem to stop ourselves from wanting to tidy up the garden at the end of the season. Changing that starts with knowledge.

So let your friends, neighbors, and social media circle know that they can also just #LeaveTheLeaves! Your yard is playing an important role in the ecosystem all year round, and it's easy to find a compromise between a functional space for you and one that provides for wildlife. By simply doing fewer chores in the fall (and say, enjoying a steaming cup of spiced cider instead, courtesy of pollinators), your garden will reap the rewards of abundant pollination, natural pest control, and food for visiting birds and wildlife next spring.

(By Justin Wheeler, Scott Hoffman Black, Deborah Seiler on 5. October 2024)

More Information

Keep Durham Beautiful
Leave the Leaves- Xerces Society
National Audubon Society
Forsyth Audubon
Leave the Leaves by Sarah Hatfield
Leave Leaves Alone

Presentations

Top 10 Reasons You Should Leave the Leaves

Leaving leaves on your property instead of blowing them to the curb for bagging and sending them to the compost facility can have numerous benefits:

Photo by Susan Andrews

1. Natural Mulch: Leaves act as a natural mulch, insulating your soil and helping it retain moisture, reducing the need for additional watering.

2. Soil Enrichment: As leaves decompose, they release valuable nutrients into the soil, enhancing its fertility and improving plant growth.

3. Organic Matter: The decomposing leaves increase the organic matter content in your soil, which improves soil structure, aeration, and drainage.

4. Erosion Control: A layer of leaves helps prevent soil erosion, especially in sloped areas, by shielding the soil from heavy rains and wind.

5. Biodiversity: Leaf litter provides habitat and food for various beneficial microorganisms, insects, birds and small wildlife, contributing to a healthier ecosystem.

6. Pollinator Support: Many native bees and other pollinators use leaf litter as a nesting material, supporting local biodiversity and garden pollination.

7. Cost Savings: By reducing the need for mulch and fertilizers, you can save money on lawn and garden maintenance.

8. Resource Conservation: By leaving leaves on your property instead of blowing them to the curb or stuffing them in yard waste bins, you help reduce the burden on municipal collections and composting operations and lower transportation costs for yard waste disposal.

9. Environmental Impact: Decreasing the volume of yard waste sent to compost facilities reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with gas leaf blowers, transportation and processing.

10. Less Labor: Raking and blowing leaves or stuffing them in yard waste bins can be time-consuming. Allowing them to stay on your property is a more efficient and sustainable approach to yard care.
    
    List courtesy of City of Greensboro Office of Sustainability & Resilience edited by Forsyth Audubon