Managing Fallen Leaves
Fallen leaves are all part of Mother Nature’s ecological plan.
Besides the awesome colors of fall, as leaves prepare for winter, die and are shed, they do serve a very useful purpose. So many, in fact, I will highlight some of them here.
Trees in the northern regions, like Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, lose their leaves as part of winter dormancy, a way of protecting themselves from winter’s cold and freezing temperatures.
As the days grow shorter and the temperatures fall, leaves do more than change color. Within this complex process, the foliage begins to move remaining sugars and mineral elements back into the tree. At the same time, waste materials within the tree are sent to the leaves which will soon be shed. Putting out the garbage, so to speak. Unlike garbage, however, leaves provide the following valuable services to your yards ecosystem:
As leaves are shed, they confer the promise of fresh green leaves in the spring. Fresh green leaves are like little food factories where all the trees life-giving energy comes from.
Fallen leaves break down and decompose enriching the soil (nature’s own fertilizer). As they break down, the organic matter becomes a soil conditioner, benefiting soil structure and aeration.
Fallen leaves that blanket the ground provide insulation protecting the crown and roots of many plant species. They help to conserve soil moisture and feed the many soil inhabitants that are part of the ecological food webs. Earthworms, insects and other organisms all benefit. During spring clean-up, have you ever noticed how the earthworms have pulled fallen leaves into the ground?
Bumblebees and lightning bugs overwinter in shallow loose soil. They may not survive the winter without the insulation and protection fallen leaves provide. Many butterfly and moth species lay their eggs in fallen leaves.
Letting leaves lie isn’t laziness – it’s being ecologically friendly.
Mowing, mulching or leaving a thin layer of leaves on the ground is a good thing. Thick matted leaves, however, can smother underlying turf.
Special Note: Foliar diseases on fallen leaves enter a dormant phase during the winter. When spring returns, under favorable conditions the spores are released into the air infecting tender new foliage, starting the disease cycle all over again. Think of apple scab, downy mildew, or leaf anthracnose.
Do not mow over or leave diseased leaves on the ground. Rake them up, recycle them or move them off site.
Protecting our environment is more important now than ever. Please do your part!