CHARLOTTE — As we approach peak foliage across the Carolinas this November, fall leaves are also starting to make their way to the ground. Rather than raking up and bagging those leaves this year, environmentalists encourage people to “leave the leaves” to support their local ecosystem.
Laurie Reid, arborist for the City of Charlotte, says homeowners should blow or rake leaves so they sit around trees or in garden beds that already have shrubs or other plants.
“The leaves do such wonderful things,” Reid told Channel 9. “They break down, and so they’re putting nutrients back in the soil for your plants, which is a really good thing. They also help regulate the temperature of the soil during the wintertime and also the moisture in the soil. And probably the best thing I love about leaving the leaves is that it provides habitats for lots of different animals.”
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Reid says bugs, including butterflies and fireflies, stay protected all winter and can flourish the following spring and summer.
Mowing your leaves is not recommended if you’re hoping to protect the organisms living in them.
And if you’re worried you have too many leaves, Reid says not to worry, because they break down very quickly throughout the season.
“Sometimes people get worried that I have a lot of trees at my house, it’s going to be really thick with lots of leaves. But they’re so thin. They break down really quickly and put those nutrients back in the soil. It’s OK if you have a nice little layer of leaves over the winter,” she says.
The City of Charlotte has “Leave the Leaves” signs that residents can place in their yards if they choose to support the campaign this year. You can get a free sign for your yard at locations set up across the area.
You can find a location near you here.
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