Having driven and walked through many neighbourhoods in Central Ontario, I can confidently say that the yard waste bag is most definitely overused!
Should You Clean Up Leaf Litter
Raking up fallen leaves in the Spring and Fall and sending them to the landfill has been the norm for years. Do we really want to do this, or have we been doing it because we see everyone else doing it?! I have seen anywhere between 5 to 20 bags at one location lining the street. I always think of how much the yard waste truck drivers must hate that time of year because those yard waste bags are often sitting out for days before pickup, many of them having been rained on, peed on by dogs, and torn open. I can only imagine how many of them rip open and dump everywhere when they get picked up - that would be a very frustrating day!
Spring
Spring cleanup of leaves makes sense, as a thick layer of wet old leaves can smother your grass. However, leaves make an excellent mulch offering nutrients to soil and prevent weeds, therefore making them an excellent candidate to be spread on gardens and flower beds.
Another idea that some people may not think of because it doesn't completely get rid of the leaves, is just mowing the leaves. Once your yard is dry enough, pull out the lawn mower and go over your grass a couple times. This will break down the leaves, prevent smothering of your grass, and spread out some perfectly chopped up organic matter!
Fall
Fall cleanup is a different story. Critters ranging from turtles and toads to songbirds, mammals and invertebrates rely on leaf litter for food, shelter and nesting material. Many moth and butterfly caterpillars overwinter in fallen leaves before emerging in spring. Best of all, the less time you spend removing leaves, the more time you’ll have to enjoy the gorgeous fall weather and the wildlife that visits your garden!
So...What Do I Do With All The Leaves
Wherever possible, let fallen leaves break down naturally, which helps improve the soil and provides countless wildlife species with habitat. While leaves will smother your lawn, consider replacing lawn areas with planting beds, filled with native plants and mulched with fallen leaves. If you must remove leaves, use them as mulch in your existing garden beds or compost them on site rather than throwing them away.
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