Are fall leaves hurting or helping your Georgia yard? Here’s what the experts say
Fall is one of the best times to see beautiful foliage falling from nearby trees. The bright yellow, orange and red leaves can brighten up any yard and give us a warm, cozy feeling.
However, if too many start piling up in the same spot, you might be wondering when they will be gone. Before you blow them all away, we want to know: are fall leaves good or bad for your yard? Here’s what to know.
Are leaves good or bad for your yard?
Well, our research has shown that experts don’t fully agree on whether or not leaves are all good or all bad. In fact, most experts say leaves can be a bit of both. Here’s more:
Why are leaves good for your yard?
“Fallen leaves create organic matter for the soil. As the leaves break down they return the nutrients that they are holding back to the soil,” said Jacob Williams at the University of Georgia Extension.
Williams explained that a light layer of leaves can act as mulch, which helps to reduce weeds and promote plant growth.
Leaves are also a great source for pollinators that will come back in the spring.
“Lots of insects will lay their eggs in the leaves. Butterflies and moths will lay eggs in the leaves to emerge next year,” Williams said.
Same goes for certain animals like turtles and birds that use the leaves as shelter and food.
However, of course, too many fallen leaves can be a negative thing. Here’s why:
Why fallen leaves can be bad
While falling leaves are all a part of nature, too many leaves can block sunlight, water and oxygen from reaching your grass.
“Accumulated layers of leaves can block sunlight and rain from reaching the grass, negatively impacting its health,” Marc Mayer, TruGreen’s director of technical operations told Southern Living. “This buildup also hinders proper air circulation.”
Allowing leaves to overstay their welcome can create issues with weeds, too.
“If your leaves completely blanket your yard and end up becoming wet with rain and ice, they can promote weed growth and potentially kill your grass,” said lawn experts at Fit Turf.
Last but certainly not least, too many leaves can be a breeding ground for unwanted critters like ticks and mice.
What are some ways to clean up and keep my yard healthy in the fall?
Rake your leaves
One easy way to keep your lawn looking good and healthy is to rake up large amounts of leaves, but don’t leave big piles of leaves around because that will kill underlying grass.
“Rake leaves into small piles near a wooded area along your yard’s perimeter and let them provide habitat for animals and insects, in a spot where they’re not a nuisance,” said Paul Hope with Consumer Reports.
Mow leaves
Mow your lawn frequently when you see a pileup of leaves, as this will prevent your mower from getting clogged and it will help evenly distribute leaf debris.
Use leaves in your garden
Bag up some leaves and distribute them in your garden.
“Most common garden plants thrive in rich, moisture-retentive soil with a diverse food web of worms, insects, and other organisms, so the additional organic matter will do a lot of good,” said gardener expert Laura Powell.
Leaving leaves around in your garden can help it flourish, plus you may end up saving some time and money, too.
What other questions do you have? Let me know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com.
This story was originally published November 18, 2024 at 12:33 PM with the headline "Are fall leaves hurting or helping your Georgia yard? Here’s what the experts say."
