Leave the Leaves, Don't Rake & Blow Them, to Help Bees, Fireflies, Soil, & More - Rutgers Ecologist
Description
There's a movement underway to educate homeowners and landscapers on the benefits of leaving leaves, rather than removing every leaf that falls from trees. Decomposing leaves improve soil health, and a vast array of plants, insects, birds, and mammals depends on leaf litter to survive.
Jean Epiphan holds a Master of Science degree in Ecology from Rutgers University in New Jersey. She is an agriculture and natural resources agent with Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County, and an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist.
Epiphan is passionate about educating people on why leaf litter is so important for bees, fireflies, moths, and more. Birds forage for food in leaf litter. Toads, snakes, and turtles live among the leaves which serve as camouflage.
Leaves can be removed from lawns and spread in garden beds, and excess leaves can be placed in a compost pile. Putting leaves in the trash destroys habitat (and the insects in those leaves), and pollutes the environment as trucks travel to the landfill.
Gas blowers also pollute, and can be harmful to the workers who use them.
"Why Leave the Leaves & How to Do It" https://njaes.rutgers.edu/fs1369/
Sandra Levine Productions https://sandralevine.com/
Watch "Still Time for Joy" as a video podcast on YouTube @SandraLevineProd
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