Can I just leave fallen leaves on my yard and garden? (2024)

FAQs

Can I just leave fallen leaves on my yard and garden? ›

Leaving the leaves alone is a good way to support native pollinators and other insects and wildlife. These valuable insects rely on the habitat fallen leaves provide, especially over the winter months. Dead leaves also decompose creating compost that can improve soil structure and fertility.

Done thoughtfully, leaving the leaves is one of the best ways to turn yard waste into free fertilizer, and that's good for your plants, the environment — and your wallet.

Excessive leaf matter on your lawn going into winter is bad for several reasons. First, it will smother the grass and if not removed very soon in the spring it will inhibit growth. Second, it can promote the snow mold diseases. And finally, turf damage from critters (voles, mice) can be more extensive in the spring.

Adding a 6 to 8-inch layer of leaves and incorporating them into garden soils by tilling can help improve them by increasing organic matter. In heavy clay soils, this will help with drainage and aeration, and in sandy soils, it will improve the soil's ability to hold onto water and nutrients.

Leaves are biodegradable, meaning that bacteria or other living organisms can decompose them. While whole leaves take a longer time to break down (about two to three years), cut up leaves decompose faster (about one year) and can provide plenty of nutrients for the soil.

If the leaves are on your garden beds or around your shrubs or bushes, no need to move them. They'll eventually disintegrate and leave you with a good amount of mulch come spring. Just make sure to rake the leaves away from the crown of perennial plants.

If you leave your leaves on your yard, you should you should mulch them with your mower. Fresh leaves will take more than a year to break down and will deflect water from soaking into the soil. Mulch them and they will break down much faster.

To best support wildlife and soil health, experts say leaves should be left where they fall. A hearty leaf cover provides a habitat during the cold winter months for critical pollinating species such as bees, butterflies and moths.

The best practice is to leave them - they'll decompose naturally by spring, enriching your lawn and garden with nutrients, and you'll give all your insect buddies a chance to survive and fulfill their important roles in the food web as pollinators and food for birds. Plus it saves you a ton of work!

Although people often rake and bag leaves to prevent their lawns from being smothered and to make yards look better, in most cases, you're fine not moving them. In fact, many environmental experts say raking leaves and removing them from your property is not only bad for your lawn but for the environment as a well.

Are dead leaves good for vegetable garden? ›

(“Leaves benefit gardens as compost and mulch,” Akron Beacon Journal, Nov. 10, 2007). Decomposing leaves improve soil structure so that it absorbs more moisture during rains and holds that moisture better during dry spells.

In addition, many spring wildflowers need a good layer of leaf litter to emerge. If you still want to remove dead leaves from your garden or yard, wait until temperatures are consistently in the 50's to give insects in your garden a chance to wake up and emerge for the spring.

To promote decomposition, mix leaves with grass clippings or other materials high in nitrogen. If possible, shred the leaves prior to composting. The smaller the size of the material, the faster it will decompose.

"The key factor to make the decomposition process go faster is water, sunlight and some heat, so it's really important to turn your compost every two to four weeks. Other things like fruit and vegetable scraps, especially cantaloupe or watermelon rinds, can take longer."

Yes, leaving fallen leaves to decompose does return valuable nutrients to the soil, provides habitat for lots of important and valuable insect species over winter, and acts as a natural mulch.

The Short Answer

Fall leaves are a cost-effective and easy-access way to take up space in raised beds, allowing you to put your garden waste to good use. They also retain moisture well and slowly break down to boost soil health over time.

The soil will benefit from this, as the chopped leaves will enhance the lawn's fertility. They also provide good insulation for soil during the winter, and help keep soil's moisture during the spring, as well as suppressing weeds.