Why Leaving the Leaves Is Better for Your Yard

It’s time to rake your lawn when the NYT starts posting articles with biologists explaining why you shouldn’t rake up the fallen leaves.

That campaign has spread awareness that fallen leaves provide overwintering habitat for many ecologically critical organisms. But that’s not all they do. Now, we can look at the consequences of leaf removal by the numbers, data that makes a more nuanced case for a gentler approach that supports plants and soil, and also offers insights into the most effective how-to practices to employ.

I don’t know where these eggheads live, but their houses don’t have the suburban green carpets that the rest of us envy. 

Continue reading