AI summary
Summary of article:
Experts recommend not rushing to rake up fallen leaves in autumn, as they can reduce waste, provide habitat for wildlife and nourish the soil after they decompose. If fallen leaves are too thick, they can be crushed or taken to the garden and composted.
“The autumn breeze is coming, but don’t blow the fallen leaves,” TV station KTLA5 reported. In recent years, more and more environmentalists have advocated “leave leaves”, encouraging people not to rush to throw away fallen leaves and let them remain on the ground for the winter. Some experts believe it is beneficial to animals, plants, and natural landscapes.
The most direct benefit is reducing waste pollution. Putting fallen leaves in garbage bags and sending them to landfills will create unnecessary waste, including plastics that cannot decompose naturally, increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition, fallen leaves are not garbage and fall naturally to the ground, providing a natural habitat for small animals and helping them survive cold winters.
From turtles and toads to songbirds, mammals and invertebrates, many species depend on leaf litter for food, protection and nesting, said David Mijeszewski, a naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation. “Many caterpillars spend the winter in fallen leaves and emerge from their cocoons in the spring.”
Some experts say: “It is a misconception that leaving fallen leaves on the lawn will harm the grass.” In fact, when fallen leaves slowly decompose according to the laws of nature, the decomposed organic matter can provide nutrients for the soil and form a natural cover, which is beneficial to plant growth. However, be careful not to cover the grass with thick, moist leaf litter for too long, as this can block sunlight, cause moisture to accumulate and easily breed diseases. If there are extra fallen leaves in the yard, they can be taken to the garden or composted.
People can take the following steps to prepare their garden for next spring: First, chop fallen leaves into small pieces to create an effective natural mulch. Experts recommend running the mower over fallen leaves and leaving them on the grass. Some lawn mowers have this function, such as the WORX 13-amp Electric Leaf Shredder and the Greenworks 40V 16-inch Push Lawn Mower.
If there are not too many fallen leaves, you can choose the American Lawn Mower 1204-14 14-inch 4-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower. There is also a Manpower Commercial Mulching 2-Blade Set, but you need to confirm whether it is suitable for the model of lawn mower you are using.
People can also deposit fallen leaves directly into the garden or other areas that need extra mulch. It is best to spread them evenly to avoid damaging the lawn due to repeated mulching in the same spot.
Summary FAQ
-
Because fallen leaves are not trash, leaving them on the ground can reduce waste and plastic pollution from bagging and throwing away, and can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions from taking them to landfills, making them environmentally friendly.
-
Leaf litter provides space for turtles, toads, songbirds, mammals, and many invertebrates to escape danger, find food, and build nests. It also allows many caterpillars to overwinter in it.
-
You can use a lawn mower to shred fallen leaves and drop them onto the grass to slowly turn them into natural mulch. If there are a lot of fallen leaves, you can move them to the garden or compost area and avoid covering the grass with a thick, moist layer of leaves for long periods of time.
