To the editor,
It’s autumn. The air is crisp, leaves are falling and it’s time to… do nothing. Yes, it’s true! Nothing. Experts are saying the best thing you can do for a healthy lawn and yard is to leave the leaves. It makes sense. The trees take up nutrients through the spring and summer. In autumn, they return the nutrients, enrich the soil and feed the microbes that live there supporting the plant life above. There really is no need to remove leaves. In a healthy ecosystem, the leaves decompose readily. Need proof? Take a walk in the woods. Even though no one rakes, the forest floor is not covered by tens of feet of leaves.
Leaf litter contains an entire ecosystem and supports local wildlife through the winter. A variety of pollinators overwinter in the leaves, form cocoons, then emerge in the spring. Creatures from bugs to birds, reptiles like turtles and salamanders, and even mammals rely on leaves for food, shelter, and nesting materials.
Not comfortable just leaving the leaves? It’s true, your lawn might not tolerate a thick layer, but it would benefit from shredded leaves left by a mulching mower. A regular mower will work too. It might require a second go-over.
Still not sure of the benefits of free lawn fertilizer? You can rake the leaves into garden beds and under trees and bushes to use as mulch. The leaves insulate the plants from the cold winter, suppress weeds, and again, provide free fertilizer. If that does not square with your current ideal look, you can make small leaf piles in the corners of your yard. Although the plants will not get an overwintering benefit, the local wildlife will still be able to take some advantage. In the spring, you can add the decomposed layer of leaves to your garden and supporting local wildlife helps keep us all healthier and happier.
More and more folks are recognizing the important benefits of keeping our local environment healthy and in balance. Leaving the leaves is a critical part. Fertile soil reduces then eliminates the need and expense of toxic chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
Be sure to keep the leaves on your property. And remember it is illegal to burn leaves at any time. If you opt to collect and remove leaves, they must be brought to town hall or properly disposed of by your landscaper.
Sincerely,
Lynnfield Tree Committee
