Leave the leaves

GUEST COMMENTARY Leave the leaves

Raking and bagging leaves is as much a fall tradition as pumpkin spice. Even if you’re in an area that doesn’t have a lot of leaves, you probably pick up other organic matter like pine needles.

Before you grab that rake this fall, think twice. Try leaving your fallen leaves on the ground. It’s not only easier for you, but it’s also better for the planet.

We’re proud to support the National Wildlife Federation’s “Leave the Leaves Month” to raise awareness about the benefits of letting the leaves lie.

Here are a few good reasons to Leave the Leaves:

• Fallen leaves serve as an overwinter habitat for lizards, birds, turtles, frogs and insects. In turn, these living creatures help keep pests down and increase pollination in your garden.

• Leaves create a natural mulch that helps to suppress weeds while fertilizing the soil as it breaks down.

• Most butterflies and moths overwinter in the landscape as an egg, caterpillar, chrysalis or adult. In all but the warmest climates, these butterflies use leaf litter for winter cover.

• Bumble bees also rely on leaf litter for protection. At the end of summer, mated queen bumble bees burrow only an inch or two into the earth to hibernate for winter. An extra thick layer of leaves is welcome protection from the elements.

An annual National Wildlife Federation survey found that more people are leaving their leaves where they fall, with 18 percent of respondents reporting they don’t collect or remove fallen leaves, an increase from 15 percent in 2024.

While this indicates a positive trend in sustainable landscaping, a third of respondents (32 percent) are still throwing away 6 or more trash bags of leaves per season. Leaving leaves reduces landfill waste while benefiting insects and wildlife that use the leaf layer to survive the winter.

“Leaving leaves where they fall benefits wildlife, insects and ecosystems while reducing waste and methane emissions,” said David Mizejewski, naturalist for the National Wildlife Federation.

“However, for those who can’t leave their leaves right where they fall, it’s still important to reduce the amount you throw in the trash.

“Although it’s best to let leaves lie, the most important thing is keeping them out of the landfill. Keeping fallen leaves on your property still benefits wildlife and the environment by using them as natural mulch, in compost piles, or simply relocating them to another area of your yard,” Mizejewski said.

While the most natural way to enhance and preserve the ecosystem created by fall leaves is to leave them alone, HOA or local requirements may prevent homeowners from doing this. The next best solution is to rake leaves directly into garden beds to create a natural mulch layer that preserves soil moisture, suppresses weeds and naturally composts, returning nutrients directly to plant roots.

While the idea is to “leave the leaves” permanently, if you do decide you need to clean up the garden and remove the leaves in spring, make sure you wait until late in the season so as not to destroy all the life you’ve worked to protect.

Your local wildlife will thank you.