Published by: Six Diamonds Tree Services, Inc.                                                                                   October 20, 2023

As the autumn breeze sweeps in and the vibrant leaves gracefully descend, our natural response is to gather them up and dispose of them in our trash bins or scatter them into the nearby woods if we are fortunate enough to reside nearby. For years, this has been our routine, deeply ingrained in our minds. However, it is worth considering whether this traditional course of action truly benefits our soil's health and our trees' resilience during the unforgiving winter months.

Leaf litter plays a vital role in enriching your soil with essential nutrients, ensuring the well-being of your trees during the colder months. However, this doesn't imply that you should refrain from raking altogether. You can still remove excessive leaves, but it is advisable to leave behind a portion to serve as nourishment for your trees and other plants.

A naturalist of the National Wildlife Foundation, David Mizejewski, stated that, “The leaves fall around the root zone of these plants, where they do things like suppress weeds or other plants from growing that would otherwise compete with the trees and the shrubs,” he said.  "They slowly break down and compost right there at the base of the of the tree of the shrub, right above its root zone, where they return nutrients that the plant can then recycle and reuse next spring.”

Instead of raking or blowing leaves off your lawn, consider mowing them for a superior solution. By mowing, the leaves will be broken up and their valuable nutrients will be distributed to your lawn and trees. This process accelerates decomposition, providing quicker nourishment to your plants and trees.

An additional compelling rationale for refraining from raking or blowing your leaves is that many homeowners tend to gather the leaves and deposit them into plastic bags, which ultimately find their way into landfills. This not only contributes to emissions, as the plastic bags degrade and produce methane, but it also burdens landfills. In fact, in 2018, data from the Environmental Protection Agency reveals that landfills received approximately 10.5 million tons of yard clippings, encompassing leaves.

As you prepare to tidy up your yard this season by removing leaves, consider the benefits of mowing. By breaking up the leaves, mowing not only enhances the appearance of your yard but also retains the nutrient-rich leaves from your trees and plants. During the harsh winter months, the decomposed matter from the leaves will nourish your trees, ensuring their vitality when they awaken in the spring. For further insights into the well-being of your trees, feel free to contact us at Six Diamonds Tree Services on (845) 878-7888.