Across Northeast Ohio, Let the Leaves Do the Heavy Lifting This Fall

As autumn settles in and leaves begin to blanket the ground, the first instinct is often to reach for the rake. Yet a growing movement encourages homeowners to “leave the leaves” and embrace their ecological benefits. Handled thoughtfully, fallen leaves can enrich gardens, protect wildlife and set the stage for a healthier spring landscape.

“Fallen leaves act as a natural mulch,” says Annie Rzepka Budziak, senior director of Arboretum Landscapes at Holden Forests & Gardens. “They help suppress weeds and lock in moisture while fertilizing the soil as they break down.” 

Unlike store-bought mulch, leaves are free, abundant and require minimal effort. Whole and shredded leaves provide habitat for birds, insects and small mammals, and native species like the great spangled fritillary and the woolly bear caterpillar tuck into leaf litter to survive the winter chill. In Ohio, nearly 500 species of native bees, 140 species of butterflies and thousands of other insects rely on this seasonal refuge.

By giving these insects a chance to overwinter, it helps ensure the pollinators and food sources that support birds, plants and the broader ecosystem can thrive in spring. 

Still, leaves should not just be left where they land. While it might sound tempting to let them pile up along the sides of your house in hopes of keeping the cold out and saving on heating bills, leaves don’t actually add any meaningful insulation value to your home. In fact, piling them against a foundation can trap moisture and offer cover for pests. This risk is especially high around wooden siding or foundation beds, where damp leaves may invite insects and even long-term damage. 

“I would keep leaves a few feet away from your home’s foundation to prevent any unwanted guests over the winter,” says Jesse Smith, conservation biologist at NATIVE Landscapes & Gardens in Chagrin Falls.

The best approach is to let the leaves work in the yard and garden while keeping the perimeter of your home clear.

Although the concept behind “leaving the leaves” is fairly simple, Smith suggests forming a plan rather than going in blindly. 

“Knowing the type of leaf you’re leaving can be very helpful,” he says. “For instance, oak leaves take a while to break down, while cherry tree leaves can promote a fungus if left under the tree, then in time can impact new leaves on the tree.”

And rather than scattering the leaves randomly, think about areas of your yard where they’ll be most beneficial. In garden beds, for instance, a few inches of leaf cover conserves moisture and feeds the soil without smothering perennials or spring bulbs. Balance is key.

On lawns, the story is different. A heavy blanket of leaves can block sunlight and suffocate grass, leaving muddy patches behind.

“You don’t want to leave whole leaves on your turf because they’ll suppress turf growth and eventually kill the lawn,” explains Budziak.

A better, low-maintenance approach is to put those leaves to work with a mower. Blow them out across the grass, and run the mower back and forth until they’re chopped into fine pieces. That thin layer can stay right on the lawn, where it breaks down into a natural fertilizer, or be blown back into your garden beds to feed the soil there. The result keeps your yard from turning into a patchy, smothered mess, while giving your landscape a healthy boost for the seasons ahead.

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