Leave the Leaves!

It’s that time of year when the temperatures are starting to change and the leaves are starting to turn color. For this and many other reasons, Autumn is a favorite season for many people. But some people may be dreading the thought of raking leaves, because leaf removal can be hard work and time consuming. Well, the good news is that leaving our leaves on the ground is great for our environment and our pollinators!

According to a University of Maryland College Park study, our leaves do a lot of great stuff, particularly providing favorable conditions for pollinating butterflies and moths over the winter. The study found that leaving the leaves in residential yards resulted in more butterflies emerging in spring than mulching or removing leaves. So retaining leaves in our yards over the winter can mean more butterflies and more pollinators.

Another benefit to keeping your leaves is carbon sequestration or the storing of carbon in the soil, which reduces carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. So this year consider letting your leaves stay in your yard or even a small section of your overall yard. You can rake leaves into garden beds, around tree bases, along your fence line and/or into other designated areas. An added bonus is that leaves provide important nutrients that improve soil and benefit plants.

If keeping your leaves in your yard isn’t right for you and your family, consider donating your leaves to neighbors interested in retaining leaves. Or you can use the City’s Curbside Leaf Collection or the City’s brown yard waste bins so that the City can process your leaves into Smartleaf Compost, which can be purchased through the Department of Public Works