Leaf “Litter” Is Not Trash
- Mar 12
- 3 min read
I recently attended a winter tree identification walk in Sea Girt’s lovely Edgemere Park and yesterday my husband, Paul, and I hiked the steep trails in Hartshorne Woods. Sounds peaceful, doesn’t it? Imagine the peaceful woods and the sound of… Leaf blowers?
Yep - if you know, you know. Also called two-stroke engines, these gas-powered leaf blowers are everywhere, beginning in early spring and possibly at their worst when teams of lawn maintenance crews are hired to blow every leaf out of sight in the fall. In Sea Girt, we could barely hear the naturalist guide speak as the roar of the blowers came from the adjacent property. This blast was accompanied by the stench of fumes wafting through the trees. Even in the sprawling woods of Hartshorne where a newcomer might worry about letting lost, the constant din of the blowers came through the trees and was an unwelcome companion.
Two-stroke engines used in most leaf blowers operate by mixing gasoline with oil, and a third of this mixture is not burned, but is emitted as an aerosol exhaust. These pollutants have been linked to cancer, heart disease, and asthma. I really worry about the people operating these machines daily.
But enough about blowers! What I really want to talk about is leaves.
When did leaves become the enemy? What harm are they doing? If you are into insects and native plants you’ve probably heard the phrase “leave the leaves.” This clarion call reminds us that fallen leaves are a vital component to a healthy ecosystem. As leaves decay they return nutrients to the soil. Commercial fertilizers and mulch pale in comparison to the rich compost created by leaves if left where they fall to decompose.
Who else cares about leaves? Bugs and birds for starters. Countless beneficial microbes and insects live in leaf piles. It’s snowing right now as I write this - where do you think all those little critters go in winter? Under a cozy bed of leaves - that’s where. If we blow all our leaves into the street for collection, we are contributing to poor soil and a perfect foothold for weeds.
Ever wonder why we rarely see fireflies these days? Many firefly species spend up to two years (!) as larvae, under the leaves and in the soil before they turn into the adult glowing insect we love. If you want these little beauties in your yard, please leave some leaves in your beds and under trees. Light leaf coverage will not harm your grass. In fact, it will probably improve it as leaves break down.
Our feathered friends hide and scatter seeds into leaves for winter feeding. Throw away the leaves, we also destroy their carefully planned survival strategies. No leaves? No beetles or other bugs for birds to eat during this cold season - and it’s not even winter yet!
It can be challenging to balance the desire for a tidy yard with the needs of wildlife and sustainable landscaping practices. I frequently hear stories of neighborhood leaf wars - when one person’s tree dropping leaves is another homeowner's nightmare. You like to rake but your neighbor loves their blower.
We need to pull back on this obsession with manicured, leafless (and lifeless) beds in our landscaping. There is a middle ground and many leaves can be raked into beds and under trees for the winter. Walkways and areas of lawn can be cleared of excess leaves, but try to use them thoughtfully before discarding them. Make a nice pile in a hidden corner of your yard while keeping the front yard neater. If you compost, you’ll be glad you saved these leaves for the summer months when we need brown material to mix with kitchen vegetable peelings and garden cuttings.
As you drive around and need to avoid enormous piles of leaves in the street, start to imagine what might be living in those piles. What potential would they have if they were left peaceably under the trees where they belong?
Let’s gently spread the word to friends and neighbors. And if your lawncare service is arriving with an army of blowers to do battle on the leaves, try asking for an alternative. It’s your yard and leaves are essential to our ecosystem!
Some ideas:
Rake leaves into beds (free mulch!)
Chop leaves in place using a mulching setting on the mower
Leave the leaf layer well into March as temperatures begin to warm
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