Autumn is here. Leaves are changing and beginning to fall.
Did you know that leaves are not trash?
It provides a hibernation habitat for native wildlife and native pollinators.
It also saves you time and energy.
Wildlife Benefits
It provides increased hibernation habitat for frogs and turtles. They rely on fallen leaves to provide cover.
Moths and butterfly caterpillars overwinter in fallen leaves before emerging in spring.
Leaves provide food for wildlife. Creatures like earthworms and millipedes reside in and decomposed leaf litter and are a source of food for larger wildlife like birds and toads.
Landscape Benefits
Decomposing leaves increase the fertility of your soil. They add nutrients to it, resulting in healthier plants.
Soils with more nutrients provide for higher percentages of water retention.
If you ever purchased mulch, you know that it can get expensive. You can use fallen leaves as mulch. Rake leaves and put them in a large trash can. You then can shred them with a weed whacker to break them down into a finer textured mulch. This will look tidier.
If you compost, add your fallen leaves to the pile. If you don't compost at home, bring your leaves to the
GROW Center. It can be turned into compost for others to use as compost in the spring.
Don't let your fallen leaves obstruct storm drains.
Here are some more tips from the City of Greeley's Stormwater Division.
Read More
Xerces: Leave the Leaves National Wildlife Federation: What to do With Fallen Leaves National Wildlife Federation: Why Leaves Fall from Trees in Autumn