Soon, neighbors will be raking piles of crunchy foliage and putting bags out for waste pickup — but I’m here to give you permission to be lazy and leave the leaves! Actually, you’ll be doing your community a service. Your yard is an ecosystem, and these fallen leaves play a part as…
🍂 Shelter for Hibernating Insects
Where do you think insects go in the cold months? Many native bugs overwinter under fallen leaves, like butterflies (such as swallowtails), moths (such as luna moths), caterpillars, bumblebees, and lightning bugs. Keep dead plants and wood, too — many bees create burrows in these natural cavities.
🍂 Insulation for Plant Roots
Fallen leaves act like a warm blanket over your garden, keeping plant roots protected from the cold winter winds. It's especially valuable for dormant perennials, and you can even add to the insulation with grass cuttings or other spent plants.
🍂 Compost for a Rich Soil
Leaves break down over winter to create a rich soil just in time for spring planting. They actually have the same weed suppression and moisture retention properties of shredded wood mulch.
➡️ Did you know that Pennsylvania has a longer and more varied fall foliage season than anywhere else? Figure out when we’re in peak color by using the DCNR’s weekly map.
