Leave the Leaves

Leave the Leaves: A Simple Step Toward a Healthier Landscape

As autumn returns to Pound Ridge, the brilliant colors of falling leaves remind us of nature’s beauty—and of the yearly ritual many homeowners follow: raking, blowing, bagging, and hauling leaves away. But this fall, the Pound Ridge Conservation Board encourages you to reconsider that tradition and “Leave the Leaves.”

Why Leave the Leaves?

Fallen leaves aren’t just a seasonal nuisance—they’re a natural, valuable resource for your landscape and local ecosystem. Here’s why:

1. Wildlife Habitat

Leaves provide critical winter shelter for butterflies, bees, spiders, toads, and other beneficial insects and pollinators. Removing them disrupts the life cycles of many species that depend on leaf litter to survive the cold months.

2. Soil Health and Mulch

Shredded leaves act as a natural mulch and slow-release fertilizer, improving soil structure, retaining moisture, and reducing the need for chemical inputs. Over time, leaves break down and enrich the soil with organic matter.

3. Carbon Footprint Reduction

Gas-powered leaf blowers and trucks hauling leaf bags contribute significantly to air and noise pollution. By leaving the leaves, you reduce emissions and your overall environmental footprint.

4. Stormwater Management

Leaves left in garden beds, under trees, or in lightly managed areas help reduce runoff, trap sediment, and slow stormwater. This is especially important in areas like Pound Ridge, where protecting water quality is essential.

How to Leave the Leaves—Responsibly

We’re not suggesting you leave leaves all over your lawn or walkways. Here’s a balanced approach:

• Mow or mulch leaves directly into your lawn. A mulching mower can shred leaves into fine particles that decompose quickly.

   

• Rake leaves into garden beds, around shrubs, or under trees to insulate plants and suppress weeds.

   

• Create a leaf compost pile in a corner of your yard—an excellent way to turn leaves into rich humus for next spring.

   

• Avoid piling leaves in storm drains, roadsides, or wetlands, where they can become hazards or degrade water quality.

   

Every Yard Matters

Adopting a “Leave the Leaves” mindset is a small but powerful act of environmental stewardship. By working with nature instead of against it, we help preserve biodiversity, support pollinators, and build healthier landscapes for generations to come.

Join us in keeping Pound Ridge naturally beautiful—and leave the leaves this fall!