Do leaves bug you? 

Have you ever wondered why many people see leaf covered forests as a sight to behold, yet consider a leaf covered yard a mess?  It is all a matter of perspective; and from the wildlife’s perspective leaves are essential. 

Many insects rely on leaf litter to survive winter months, and research shows that insect populations are in a steep decline. You may be thinking, “Good, I don’t like bugs”, but know that humans would be in a dire situation without insects. Insects are essential for pollinating food crops, breaking down waste, providing food for amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, and even controlling other insects. 

A trend has started to take hold of planting food for pollinators, but don’t let the winter be an out of site out of mind situation. Some species, like the monarch butterfly, migrate south for the winter, but the vast majority of insects stay right where they are, hidden away until the spring. Red banded hairstreaks lay their eggs on fallen oak leaves, luna moths and swallowtails disguise their cocoons and chrysalises as dried leaves, and bumble bees use leaf litter as protection to survive the winter months. So when we remove the leaves or grind them up, we often remove the very insects we were trying to attract in the summer in the process.  

But what about those pest bugs that wreak havoc in your garden? It may seem counter intuitive, but if you have pest issues, one of the best solutions can be having more bugs and a little bit of patience. Aphid problem? Bring in the hover flies. Spider mites? There are a plethora of beneficial mites that love to eat them up. It is all about creating a balanced ecosystem that then controls itself. 

So what is the solution to living in harmony with the leaves? Well Leaves tell you what to do with them right in their name, leave them! If they are too thick in lawn areas consider raking them around trees and into garden beds. You may find you have a lot less wedding to do next summer. Leaves are also packed with nutrients and trace minerals, and as they break down these nutrients become available to your plants. Along with providing free fertilizer, they help sandy soils retain moisture and loosen up clay soils. In annual and vegetable beds, a thick layer of leaves put down in the fall will create a perfect weed free canvas in the spring that can be directly planted into to create a very low maintenance garden.  

With over 40 million acres of lawn in the U.S., if we collectively change our approach to leaves, it could make a big difference to our little friends.