Leave the Leaves

We are encouraged to ‘leave the leaves’ and ‘save the stems’ to provide valuable organic matter, and to build up healthy soil in our yards and garden beds. This practice also helps pollinators and invertebrates, as it provides them with winter cover.

Gardener Extras

Lunar moths and swallowtail butterflies disguise their cocoons and chrysalises as dried leaves, blending in with the real leaves.
Spiders, snails, worms, beetles millipedes, mites and more live in leaves. In turn, they support the chipmunks, turtles, birds and amphibians that rely on these insects for food.
In North America, about 1,500 species of insects form galls on different plants.
Some rose gardeners swear by pruning down, uprooting their rose plants in fall, and laying them horizontally to be covered completely in leaves. This provides adequate warmth, protection, and moisture to keep roses going through hard times.

Julie Berbiglia

Julie is Metro Water Services’ Education Specialist. She is happiest when mucking about in the soil. She revels in community gardening projects, frugal gardening practices, organic growing methods, and clever solutions to landscape challenges