Drop those Blowers! Leaf it Be!

As the temperatures steadily drop, and the leaves begin to change our hands start to twitch closer and closer to our rakes and blowers. In this blog post, I am going to urge you, no beg you, to fight that urge. Strap those hands to your sides and watch incredible nature do its best work-without our interference. 

You might be thinking, “but it's an eyesore!” or “I work so hard on my lawn! Why would I let that all go to waste!”. In the next five minutes, I’m going to share eight reasons that can help shift that perspective. So let’s dive in!

1. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a startling statistic that almost made me spit out my morning coffee, and that is “leaves and other yard debris account for more than 13 percent of the nation’s solid waste”. This is an incredible 33 million tons per year that then turns into methane in our landfills. Methane is the second-largest contributor to climate warming just behind carbon dioxide. 

2. Many people spend money on mulch and fertilizers on their lawn, but fallen leaves naturally accomplish this! They are a natural mulch layer that help suppress weeds, and when they decompose they release much needed nutrients back into the soil. 

3. A fallen mulch layer of leaves not only better retains water but it also helps purify it on its journey to our lakes, streams, and rivers. It also slows the runoff process which means less flooding, overflowing river banks, and habitat destruction (animals and our own). 

4. By removing all the leaves, you are eliminating vital habitat for so many creatures! I cannot stress this point enough. Turtles, toads, birds, and countless other mammals and invertebrates use leaf litter as shelter. In his book, The Nature of Oaks, Doug Tallamy writes that “the diversity and abundance of the little creatures that reside in the leaf litter that accumulates beneath an oak tree is astounding and easily exceeds counts in the millions…Many of these creatures are the most abundant multicellular organisms on earth” (Tallamy 51-52). He goes on to say that around 70 species of moths develop on leaf litter in the United States alone. Saving these insects is also critical then for native bird populations who rely on native plants to host enough food for them. And those are just a few of the creatures you can see! There are hundreds of thousands of decomposers and detritivores not visible to our eyes that rely on these leaves. It is all connected. 

5. If you struggle with poor soil, leaves are your answer! The longer you leave them on your lawn, the more nutrients can leach from them and the more beneficial fungi and bacteria can work on them. This improves the structure and fertility of your soil while adding organic matter. Rich dark brown humus is gold standard, and I know so many of us work with red Virginia clay. Having more organic matter in your soil improves water infiltration and retention, microbial diversity, mineral content, carbon sequestration, less compaction, nutrients for plants, and the number of worms!

6. Leaving your leaves is like tucking your plants into bed before a long winter’s sleep. They act as an insulating layer that protects plant roots and crowns from frost damage. This is especially important for young trees, tender perennials, and overwintering vegetables. Fun fact, a leaf layer provides the opposite effect during the hot summer months by helping keep plants cooler! Just remember to not put mulch up against the stem or trunk of a plant. Keep a nice, open ring around it. 

7. This one is more of a fun aside, but if you have a thick leaf mulch layer, you don’t have to worry about getting your boots all muddy or your dog tracking mud inside the house. As a dog owner, I see this as a big win. 

8. If you really can’t stand the look of fallen leaves in your yard, try gathering them into specific locations such as under trees, in garden beds, or in between rows of vegetables. Many people advise running them over with a lawn mower to chip them up and speed up the decay process, but I personally would avoid this as we just learned how many moths and other crucial insects use leaf litter as habitat. 

This fall, I hope you can rest those raking arms and use that extra time to spend time with family and friends as nature puts on its autumnal show. If you’re like me, you might spend some of that time poking in leaf piles and greeting some of the wonderful critters that quietly keep our world in order. 

-Lauren Saurs