By Astrid Cook Dail, NC State Extension Master Gardener SM volunteer of Durham County
This post is part one of two on tidying the garden for the fall. Check back next week for the second part on managing perennial stems based on a recent NCSU study.
What is “Leave the Leaves”?
You may have heard the term “leave the leaves” as part of a campaign by Xerces Society to popularize the idea of preserving fallen leaves intact over winter. Many people are unaware of the invaluable resource leaf litter provides for invertebrates during the cooler months and through the late spring. Whole leaves are essential habitat for fireflies who lay eggs among them, moths who make cocoons, and bumblebees who burrow between them as well. When leaf litter remains intact – it is imperative not to shred it as shredding kills the larvae and insects – and available to insects, it also supports wildlife farther up the food chain, such as birds who forage through leaves looking for food. As insect and bird populations continue to decline, it is more important than ever to leave as many leaves in place where they fall as possible.
Leaves left whole and in place as they fall. (Image credit: Astrid Cook Dail)
When You Can’t Just “Leave the Leaves”
However, if you have a garden, there are certain circumstances where “leaving the leaves” can be unhelpful or unsafe. If you have a natural area that you perform minimal maintenance in, then the following tips may not be for you. And when in doubt, please just leave the leaves alone! But if you are looking for some additional advice about managing excess leaf litter, here are some ways to preserve and protect wildlife while also allowing for some fall cleanup.
First, there are some outdoor areas where leaves need to be removed for safety or for essential functions. These may include: cleaning hardscaping of leaves, where they may present a risk of slipping, and will not break down; or removing leaves from your gutters in order to facilitate the movement of water off your roof without damaging your home. Sometimes, the solution is simply to rake, blow, or gather the leaves and deposit onto nearby garden beds. However, it is important to keep the leaf litter from becoming too deep a layer as very dense piles of leaves can impede the flow of water, something that is especially unhelpful in a severe drought as we are continuing to experience. While recommendations on leaf litter depth vary, personally I keep it simple and look to the amount of leaves that fall in forested areas nearby and use that as a guide.
Leaf bins made of utility wire empty and ready to be refilled this fall. (Image credit: Astrid Cook Dail)
If, like me, your vegetable garden is located directly under a canopy of hickory and oak trees (fantastic for summer shade!) and you grow fall and winter veggies or are hoping to have a winter cover crop germinate successfully, you may also want to remove leaf litter from some growing areas you need access to during the cooler months. Again, a simple solution is to rake or blow these leaves off into nearby beds that are being tucked in for the winter.
A bug snug constructed of fallen leaves, dead stems, and other garden debris. (Image credit: Astrid Cook Dail)
Additional Ways to Use Leaves for Wildlife
If your garden beds are starting to pile up with too many leaves, here are some more ways you can put them to work for you and for wildlife this fall:
- Build a bug snug! These are similar to insect or bee hotels in that they provide a variety of habitat. I wrote a great blog post about how to build them last year.
- Deposit into mesh leaf bins. Grab a roll of fine mesh or chicken wire, make a cylinder around 3-4’ in diameter, secure with wire or zipties, and dump all your leaves in! It’s really that simple. Since the leaves remain whole, many of the insects overwintering will be preserved (although due to depth of leaves in the bin, some may not emerge successfully), and whatever remains breaks down into leaf mold to be used in the garden next year.
- Create a dead hedge. If you are looking to level up your wildlife habitat game, this one is for you. A more aesthetic alternative to a brush pile, dead hedges provide significant wildlife value year-round and are a good place to add some extra leaves when you have them.
A dead hedge constructed of T posts and filled with branches and other woody debris. Birds often love to hang out here. (Image credit: Astrid Cook Dail)
Final Notes
When it comes to leaves, there is no such thing as too much – even if you have to make some adaptations in the way you use them. If you are looking for ways to gather more leaves this fall, you can ask your neighbors if you can have their leaves, or pick up the bags of leaves many people put by their curb. A word of caution: leaves from yards that have been sprayed with pesticides or herbicides may contain traces and could have a negative effect on your local ecology.
You can also rake and gather up leaves from yours or your neighbor’s drainage ditches or drains that run to sewers, which should remain unobstructed from major debris to facilitate sufficient water movement. It is common for leaves to end up blowing in the street and settle on the sides of the road where water drains into sewers, and I have been known to cart my wheelbarrow down several houses picking up all the leaves that have piled there and store them in mesh bins to use in the garden the following year.
When possible, do not shred leaves or bag them up at the curb to be disposed of as if they are trash. Hopefully you are inspired to see leaves for what they are – garden gold both for gardeners and for our ecosystem.
Additional Information and Resources
- Insect Life Under the Leaves
- Even Untouched Ecosystems are Losing Insects at an Alarming Rate
- Bird Populations Are in Steep Decline Around the World
- Essential Gardening Tips for Drought Conditions blog post
- Build a Bug Snug: An Essential Winter Habitat for Insects blog post
- Wire Mesh Composter: Do-It-Yourself Compost Bin Instructions
- Building a Dead Hedge- Enhance Your Garden with a Unique Winter Project
Edited by Astrid Cook Dail, NC State Extension Master GardenerSM volunteer of Durham County
