09/30/2026
LEAVE THE LEAVES!
I'm gonna say it early and often, because it is one of the easiest and most ecologically impactful changes you can make for your habitat.
Soon the falling temps will lead to falling leaves. The majority of us have spent years dutifully raking them up and piling them in the street for the city to haul away. Or bagging them for disposal. Or piling them to be burned. It's time for change.
Moths, butterflies, fireflies, beetles, native bees, and countless other invertebrates rely on a healthy layer of leaf litter to lay their eggs, pupate, and provide shelter through the winter so that they can emerge next summer. These invertebrates provide the backbone of a healthy ecosystem, and when you rake away the leaves, you rake away all of them as well.
Fallen leaves also provide a mulch layer that retains moisture, suppresses w**d growth, and enhances soil with organic matter as the leaves decay.
Save the stems too! Leave the spent blossoms and stems on your native plants through the winter. The seeds provide food for birds through lean winter months and the branches provide shelter for birds and other wildlife.
Leaves raked into the street can clog sewer drains, run off into rivers, and often get buried in snow before pickup, creating a mess that can last all winter. Prevent all of these problems by keeping them in your yard.
You don't have to turn your property into a completely wild habitat to accomplish this. Gently rake leaves that fall on the lawn into flower beds, gardens, or around the base of trees. Avoid mower bagging or shredding the leaves if possible as this does immense damage to the inhabitants. Rake gently or use an electric blower on it's lowest setting. And of course, eliminate any pesticide use.
Most native plants will easily overwinter under a 6 inch layer of leaves and emerge in spring without issue. Can't find enough space to rake them? Consider converting some lawn space to habitat by smothering the grass with a thick pile of leaves. Next season you'll have a new space to
Every fall we make massive piles of leaves under the city trees in the "hellstrip" of our urban yard, and they are completely gone by spring. The squirrels use them through the winter to line their nests. Without access to these materials these creatures are likely to search for alternative sources of nesting material, such as attic insulation.
The benefits of leaving the leaves are numerous and the process is so simple. Do you leave the leaves on your property? For those with small urban yards, what tricks have you found to keep them all?
