Dealing with fallen leaves is a rite of passage for anyone with discernibly colder seasons and a few deciduous trees in their yard. As those glorious waves of golden, scarlet and amber leaves turn to crinkly brown confetti you’ll feel the urge to pick up that trusty rake or leaf blower and get to work. But fight that urge for a second as we explain why leaving your leaf litter alone is the best thing you can do for your garden.
Leaf litter doesn’t sound appealing but it plays a crucial role in the ecosystem and is loaded with things your garden needs to thrive. Seeds, twigs, berries, and other important organic matter get mixed in with the leaf sheddings and all play a role in helping keep your landscape stay healthy and fertile in the coming seasons. Instead of raking up a big pile of leaves to haul to the edge of your property or burn them out in the woods we suggest leaving them be. Leaf beds provide shelter and food for small animals, birds and earthworms. As the leaves break down they become a natural, chemical-free fertilizer for your yard. Even in death your trees and shrubs leaves are working hard to ensure a flourishing garden next spring!
If you live in a neighborhood that frowns upon leaf litter, fear not! There are plenty of other uses for your garden debris. You can toss them in your compost pile (chopping them up first helps them break down faster) or use them as mulch in your flower beds. In some places you may even be able to drop off your leaves at the local recycling center for community gardening projects.
