When leaves change color each autumn, we all "ooh!" and "aah!" and run out to buy pumpkin spice lattes. But as soon as they drop to the ground, the magic fades and all that's left is the drudgery of a weekend spent raking them up.
Or is there? The National Wildlife Federation actually recommends not raking your leaves at all. You read that right: Just leave 'em where they lie.
The reality is that fallen foliage isn't a just nuisance that's hiding your manicured
lawn — it's an active and necessary part of the ecosystem. Beds of leaves provide shelter and even food for animals like chipmunks, box turtles, and earthworms. Butterfly pupae use the layers for protection as they grow over the chilly months. Plus, as the leaves decompose (no, they won't litter your lawn forever), they form a natural mulch and help fertlize the soil.
lawn — it's an active and necessary part of the ecosystem. Beds of leaves provide shelter and even food for animals like chipmunks, box turtles, and earthworms. Butterfly pupae use the layers for protection as they grow over the chilly months. Plus, as the leaves decompose (no, they won't litter your lawn forever), they form a natural mulch and help fertlize the soil.
Of course, many commmunities have rules regarding curb appeal and leaf collection, and you should clear away sidewalks and paths to your house. But if you must get rid of your leaves, the NWF suggests placing them in a compost pile, using them for mulch in planting beds, or dropping them at your recycling center for municipal composting.