With the arrival of cooler temperatures, curbside leaf collection is underway in many parts of the Centre region. Homeowners and landscapers diligently blow, rake or bag every stray particle of foliage, as has been the neighborhood norm for years. But savvy gardeners eschew this convenience, because they know that fallen leaves are garden gold.
“Leave the leaves” is a catchy phrase that conveys good advice, but it doesn’t mean allowing your sidewalk or lawns to be covered by inches of leaf material. Walkways should be kept clear for safety reasons, and while turfgrass can certainly tolerate a light covering of leaves, most should be gently raked back under the drip line of trees. According to Dr. Douglas Tallamy, the author of Bringing Nature Home, “the best place to leave the leaves is under the trees that grew them.” These leaves serve as a (free) natural mulch that will suppress weeds while gradually breaking down to nourish the trees, just as nature intended. Shade-loving native perennials can then be planted underneath to provide a ‘soft landing; for pollinators, add interest and further reduce the need for weeding.
Additionally, rake some of those leaves into your garden beds. Your perennial plants will appreciate the fertilizer, as well as the extra insulation through the winter.
This year, consider working with nature, rather than against it. Fallen leaves are the best mulch that money can’t buy!
Photo: Lisa Schneider
