Leave the Leaves?

So says David Mizejewski in a report by Mary Bowerman:

[SMcK: Confession time; I mow mine into small pieces and then put them in the compost pile.]

Put the rake down, and back away from the leaves.

Dry, dead leaves may be unsightly to your neighbors, but they are great wildlife habitat for a slew of creatures, according to David Mizejewski, a Naturalist at the National Wildlife Federation.

Each year the NWF, reminds people that there are benefits to letting leaves decompose naturally.

Here are a few reasons why it makes sense to put your rake away:

Leaving your leaves could save you money:

“Leaves are nature’s natural mulch and fertilizer,” Mizejewski said. “When you rake all the leaves away, you are removing that natural benefit to your garden and lawns – then people turn around and spend money to buy mulch.”

If you feel like you have to clean up your yard, Mizejewski said people can use their leaves like they would mulch, and move them to a garden bed or area that is more aesthetically pleasing.