All right, STOP! Collaborate, and listen!
WRL is back with a brand new mission!
Something grabs a hold of me tightly:
Let the leaves chill daily and nightly!
Ok, ok, so WRL and the folks at Nutley News obviously leave much to be desired in emulating the talented musician, Vanilla Ice, but we are as passionate about the environment as Robert Matthew Van Winkle is to his dope melodies. One of the ways to support wildlife this fall is to… literally do nothing to your yard. Sound too good to be true? Hear us out!
While picture-perfect lawns in Hollywood movies (and presumably rappers’ mansions!) have not even a whisper of a leaf on their pristine greens, even in the height of autumn, environmental scientists encourage leaf management instead of full removal. Keeping leaves in garden beds, along fences, and in areas with sparse grass helps create a home for wintering biodiversity. The leaves also act as an insulator, protecting the soil from freezing temperatures, and helping to keep erosion at bay.
Wait – what do you mean that leaves protect biodiversity?! Great question! The leaf layer is crucial for many endangered insects and animals, including our beloved fireflies, bumblebees, luna moths, salamanders, and a multitude of birds. For them, leaves have multifaceted uses and benefits, such as providing food, sanctuary, and a protective shield from the elements. The leaves act as an insulator, slowing the ground from freezing, and the moisture retained and the heat produced from decomposition provides a safeguard for animals and arthropods. For example, the Eastern Box Turtle hibernates 2-6 inches below the soil surface, and the leaf layer is instrumental in providing them insulation over the winter. In the spring, Eastern Box Turtles use leaves as camouflage for themselves and their nests of eggs. Eastern Red Bats also use the leaf layer as a protective blanket sanctuary when temperatures hit freezing.
Numerous invertebrates such as worms, spiders, wasps, bees, ants, snails, centipedes, and even tinier others rely on leaf litter for food and shelter. Some of these critters are instrumental in recycling dead organic material, and others eat the critters on recycling duty. Allowing the leaves to remain provides critical opportunities for these arthropods to thrive in an increasingly over-developed world.
Lastly, decaying leaves add nutrients back into the soil. If you feel compelled to rake your leaves, please consider mulching your leaves and using them as compost for your yard and garden. Mulching also helps to limit greenhouse gas emissions and waste. Just over 6% of waste in landfills nation-wide is yard waste, which takes up space and contributes to methane production. If you have to rake your leaves, check with your city or local services to see if they have a composting program. Leaves raked into gutters or storm drains make their way into local rivers and the Chesapeake Bay, where they contribute to algae blooms and dead zones.
Leave the tidying up for spring, once the animals and insects have had the opportunity to finish overwintering- it will be a win for the local ecosystem!
Written by Elizabeth O’Malley
Elizabeth O’Malley is a WRL Transporter and columnist. She loves plants, pottery, and powerlifting.
