As fall begins to blow cold and leaves shake free from trees, our urban landscapes are painted a warm palette of color, and brisk walks are accompanied by a crisp crunch underfoot. However, fall foliage loses its favor from many when it lands on our lawns. About as soon as leaves float down to grace our grass, an urgent, annual campaign ensues to rake, bag, and dispose of them, as if they’re an offensive litter that has fallen from the sky.
What would happen if we leave leaves right where they fall? Though this may cause a judgmental glare from your neighbors, there are many environmental and financial benefits.
Fallen leaves serve as crucial overwintering habitat for many wild critters, including toads, turtles, birds and pollinators. According to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, seventy percent of the nearly 4,000 native bee species in North America build nests on or below the surface over winter, and they benefit from a blanket of leafy insulation to help them survive freezing temperatures. More than a quarter of native bumblebees are facing extinction, and experts say loss of overwintering habitat is among the causes of their decline.
Leaf cleanup is also a major cause of waste and pollution. According to the EPA, leaves and other yard debris account for more than 12 percent of the US solid waste—that’s 35.4 million tons per year. Without enough oxygen to decompose, this organic matter releases the greenhouse gas methane into the air, and that’s in addition to all of the carbon dioxide output and noise pollution from the gas-powered yard machines that run all fall.
By picking up leaves, we are also turning away nature’s free mulch and fertilizer. Even if you prefer to keep your lawn clear of leaves, you can use them to cover your garden beds; They will prevent invasive weed growth and enrich the soil with nutrients as they decompose.
Besides all of these benefits, leaving leaves will free you from unnecessary yard labor and create more time to enjoy the beautiful fall weather while it lasts.