October 12, 2023

Leaving the Fallen Leaves - A Small Step Towards Pollinator Stewardship.

As we approach the beautiful autumn season, it’s tempting to begin raking up all the fallen leaves. However, before grabbing your rake, it’s important to understand the benefits of leaving those colorful leaves in place for the sake of our pollinators. While it may seem like a chore to have leaves scattered across your lawn, letting them lay can make a significant impact on the health of our environment. Lets talk about the importance of leaving fallen leaves for pollinator stewardship and how it will benefit our gardens and communities.
 

 

Provides Nutrients for Insects and Pollinators

Fallen leaves create a natural layer of mulch that helps create a perfect environment for insects and pollinators. The leaves attract beneficial insects by providing them with the nutrients they need to survive. Insects like butterflies, moths, beetles, and other pollinators rely on the leaves as a source of food during the winter season. Leaving the leaves also creates a natural shelter for insects and pollinators that require a safe place to lay their eggs.

 

Helps Retain Moisture in the Soil

Leaving fallen leaves in your garden or landscape can help retain moisture in the soil. The leaves act as a barrier to water evaporation, which ultimately helps plants flourish during the dry season. With a protective layer of leaves covering the soil, you’re ensuring the soil stays moist and water is retained. Furthermore, leaving leaves on the soil reduces the need for watering, which ultimately saves water.

 

Supports a Healthy Ecosystem

The more leaves that are left on the ground, the more connected we become to a healthy ecosystem. By leaving the leaves, we are reducing our carbon footprint by not burning or bagging leaves that are essential for pollinator survival. Additionally, the leaves attract beneficial microorganisms that break them down into valuable nutrients. This cycle, in turn, helps promote long-term plant and soil health needed for a sustainable ecosystem.

 

Cost-Effective and Eco-Friendly

Leaving fallen leaves in the yard is a low maintenance and cost-effective alternative for maintaining a healthy lawn. It eliminates the need to water plants regularly and purchase expensive fertilizers suitable for plant health. In turn, it’s a remarkable way to practice eco-friendly habits by keeping the environment healthy and promoting a long-term reduction in carbon emission.

  

Leaving fallen leaves is a crucial step towards promoting pollinator stewardship and keeping our environment healthy. It provides beneficial nutrients, creates a healthy ecosystem, retains soil moisture, reduces carbon emission and costs, and adds an aesthetic touch. So the next time you see those fallen leaves on your lawn, embrace them! Your garden and pollinators will thank you for it.

 

Written by Jillian Medford

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