Let’s Put One Fall Ritual to Bed
One of our go-to sources for resources on protecting habitat is the Xerces Society. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is an international nonprofit organization that protects the natural world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats. When fall rolls around one of their key messages is “Leave the Leaves.” We heartily agree that this age-old fall ritual needs to be put to bed!
From Xerces.org: “One of the most valuable things you can do to support pollinators and other invertebrates is to provide them with the winter cover they need. Besides providing the right plants, and protecting your garden from pesticides, one of the next most valuable things you can do to support pollinators and other invertebrates is to provide them with the winter cover they need in the form of fall leaves and standing dead plant material. Frequently however, this is the hardest pill for gardeners to swallow.
It may be habitual, a matter of social conditioning, or a holdover of outdated gardening practices from yesteryear—but for whatever reason, we just can’t seem to help ourselves from wanting to tidy up the garden at the end of the season—raking, mowing, and blowing away a bit of nature that is essential to the survival of moths, butterflies, snails, spiders, and dozens of arthropods.
That’s why this year—and every year—we are making the case for leaving the leaves and offering input on what to do with them. Read on!”
Learn more by exploring the resources below …
Xerces Society says … Leave the Leaves
Leaf & Limb says … Drop that rake! Save time and money by leaving your leaves
TreeHugger says … Skip the Rake
NC Wildlife Federation says … Don’t be a home wrecker - Leave the leaves
Nation Wildlife Federation says … Why you should leave the leaves
NPR says … Why experts say you shouldn't bag your leaves this fall