![]() It is beneficial to keep a thick mat of leaves from forming over the crowns of perennial plants. Even thick layers of fallen leaves will break down over the winter leaving you with an inch or two of mulch the following spring. ![]() Additionally, they can help insulate the ground over the winter, protecting perennials from extreme cold temperatures.įor the most part, leaves in perennials beds, under shrubs and in other mulched areas do not have to be removed. ![]() ![]() As they decompose, they act as a mulch, suppressing weeds and helping to maintain consistent soil moisture. They break down to add organic matter and nutrients to the soil. Leaves are an excellent resource for the garden. What do I do with fallen leaves in my flower beds? If the leaf layer is thick, mow over an area more than once. Mowing is best done when the layer of leaves is thin and dry, so mow often throughout the fall. When finished, very little leaf debris should be visible. The leaves must be chopped into pieces small enough to fall down between the blades of grass. Chopping the leaves up with a mulching mower can help return organic matter to the soil, benefitting the lawn, and for most people, it is easier than raking and removing. Gardeners can also manage leaves on the lawn by mowing. Leaves can be collected by raking, blowing or using the collection bag on a mower and then removed from the lawn and added to a compost pile or sent to a composting facility. The leaf debris prevents the turfgrass plants from manufacturing and storing food prior to winter and can block light causing areas of the lawn to dieback, leaving behind patchy areas of dead grass that are unsightly and more prone to weeds.Ī layer of leaves where little or no grass is visible will need to be managed. In the fall, lawn areas beneath large trees are often completely covered with leaves. Turfgrass plants utilize light, water and nutrients to manufacture food. Do I have to remove the leaves from my lawn? Whenever possible move them to mulched garden areas with fewer leaves or create a compost pile onsite to keep all that beneficial organic matter in your yard. Often a little redistribution of the leaf layer to prevent a thick mat of leaves from forming is all that is needed to prevent this type of damage.Įxcessively thick layers of leaves (greater than 6 to 8 inches) may need to be reduced or removed. If nothing is done, layers of fallen leaves can cause damage by blocking out light and smothering plants, which can kill them. Even with all these benefits, it doesn’t mean that leaves can simply go unmanaged in the lawn and garden. Dead leaves also decompose, creating compost that can improve soil structure and fertility. These valuable insects rely on the habitat fallen leaves provide, especially over the winter months. ![]() Leaving the leaves alone is a good way to support native pollinators and other insects and wildlife. Can I just leave fallen leaves on my yard and garden? Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulturists offer advice on how to manage the colorful blanket of leaves that appear in your lawn and garden each fall. Collecting and removing every leaf is not necessary but simply ignoring them isn’t a good option either. AMES, Iowa - Each autumn the leaves on the deciduous trees in our yards fall into lawns and garden beds. ![]()
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