10/07/2026
Were you thinking about all the yard work you have to do before the snow flies?
Well, we are here to take two things off your list!
One of the most valuable (and easiest) things you can do to support pollinators, invertebrates, and other wildlife is to provide them with the winter cover they need: fallen leaves and standing dead plant material.
Many butterflies, moths, and other insects utilize leaf litter as their overwintering habitat. In addition to all the great benefits for wildlife, leaf litter also serves as free mulch that suppresses weeds and fertilizes the soil as it decomposes. Another thing you can do is leave the stems of your plants standing throughout the winter. The seed heads will provide seeds to birds that spend the winter with us, and the dead stems of your plants provide a safe space for cavity-nesting bees throughout the winter.
So this fall, leave the leaves and save the stems of your plants!
Let's work together to redefine what a beautiful landscape is! In our eyes, the most beautiful landscapes support the most wildlife.
We also want to note that “leave the leaves” does not necessarily mean ignoring them and leaving them where they fall. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency urges people to clean up leaves that have fallen on streets, sidewalks, and other hardscapes where they can wash into stormwater systems and end up in lakes, streams, and rivers. They note that when leaves from whole cities or neighborhoods wash into a body of water through a stormwater system, the volume of organic matter can overwhelm that body of water. The leaves’ nutrients feed algae growth, which decomposes and uses up oxygen that fish and native plants need in Minnesota’s waterways.
If you live in a suburban or urban area, we encourage you to clean up your leaves that have fallen along your curb and sidewalk throughout the fall and use the leaves as mulch throughout your yard. Also, if you are worried about leaves smothering your lawn, rake up the leaves and use them as mulch in your garden beds.
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