Leave the Leaves!
Year round, leaves and yard trim is picked up weekly in paper lawn bags or reusable containers for municipal compost. And every fall, some properties move leaves to the curb for collection by the DOT Leaf Vacuum Program or pay for removal. But, did you know, that leaving the leaves on your property (including mulching, mowing, or composting) can make your yard healthier and save you time and money? In addition to the nutrients that feed the soil and plants, leaves also benefit wildlife.
Why You Should Leave the Leaves
Leaving leaves on your property is great for the environment and your yard!
- Leaves are critical habitat for butterfly and firefly eggs. Birds and other small wildlife also feed on larvae and insects nesting in leaves, while chipmunks, toads, and salamanders rest under leaves for warmth and moisture.
- Decomposing leaves create free, natural fertilizer that enriches the soil by providing nutrients and carbon, leading to a healthier yard and garden. Trees need carbon and nutrients from leaves to grow big and strong and fight disease.
Ways to Use Leaves at Home
Mulch Your Leaves – Create habitat and natural fertilizer, fight weeds, and insulate roots.
- Raking and leaving leaves under trees and moving them into garden beds (while keeping them away from the bark of trees and shrubs) will create richer soil and healthier plants and fight weeds.
- As leaves decompose and become mulch, they act as free fertilizer, providing soil and plants with nutrients. Leaves also insulate tree roots from the cold of winter and heat of summer.
- Wildlife and insects rely on leaves through the winter for nesting, food, insulation, and maturing from eggs to adults.
Mow Your Leaves – Create natural fertilizer, no moving of leaves required.
- Use a lawnmower to finely chop up excess leaves on your lawn, turning leaves into free fertilizer and carbon for the soil. It also allows you to leave your leaves where they fall – no raking or blowing required!
Compost Your Leaves – Create free fertilizer for your garden.
- Add leaves, grass clippings, and other yard trim to a backyard compost bin. Composting transforms your yard trimmings into a dark, crumbly, sweet-smelling material that naturally enriches the soil. Learn more about yard trim composting and how to get a compost bin from DEP at no additional cost by visiting our composting page.