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Why fall yard care could start with doing less – but not nothing

<name>Manjot Kaur Sidhu, Assistant Extension Professor of Horticulture and Ornamental Horticulture Specialist, University of Maine</name> <foaf:homepage rdf:resource="https://theconversation.com/profiles/manjot-kaur-sidhu-2746266"/>· 9 octobre 2026

Leaves on the ground are part of the natural cycle of nutrients. Manjot Sidhu , CC BY-SA Every autumn, homeowners and gardeners tend to engage in a familiar ritual. As trees shed their leaves, people drag out rakes, leaf blowers and lawn bags to strip their yards bare before winter arrives. It is a…

Résumé

Fall leaves support ecosystems

Fallen leaves in autumn are often seen as yard waste, but they play a critical ecological role.

Instead of being dead debris, they form a biological layer that drives nutrient cycling and supports soil health.

This layer is essential for biodiversity, including native pollinators like bees, butterflies, and fireflies.

For example, up to 70% of native bee species nest in the ground or under leaf mulch during winter.

Raking away leaves disrupts these habitats and removes a natural source of nutrients that trees pump from deep soil into their leaves before shedding them.

These nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, and nitrogen, are returned to the soil when leaves decompose, acting as a slow-release fertilizer.

Leaving leaves in place also helps regulate soil temperature, conserves moisture, and prevents erosion, benefiting plants and soil microbes alike.

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