Most of us have been taught to clear away fall leaves. So when the trees finish dropping their leaves each year, it’s common to rake or blow them to the curb for trash pickup, bag them up in the trash, or burn them.

Unfortunately, these widespread approaches aren’t good for the planet. And they waste precious ecological resources that boost plant health, support pollinators, and help sustain local ecosystems.

Below, we’ll explain why and outline some eco-friendly strategies to make the most of this natural resource.

The Benefits of Fallen Leaves (And the Downsides of Leaf Disposal)

Fallen leaves have played a role in natural cycles since the advent of trees. So it’s no surprise they offer many ecological benefits:

• They insulate plants and soil from cold temperatures.

• They supply soil with vital nutrients as they break down.

• They provide overwintering habitat for important creatures including butterflies, moths, caterpillars, bumblebee queens, beetles, salamanders, and frogs.

• Because they harbor insects, fallen leaves also provide food for birds, turtles, amphibians, and small mammals.

Meanwhile, common leaf disposal methods can harm the environment. Removing leaves deprives our ecosystems of their benefits. When leaves end up in landfills, they release methane—a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. And burning leaves release smoke that contains harmful compounds.

Bottom line: Fall leaves are a fantastic resource for our ecosystems—and the best part is, they’re free. So before you remove them from your property, consider putting them to good use instead.

Eco-Friendly Alternatives: What to Do with Fallen Leaves

Ready to make the most of fall leaves? Check out the six environmentally friendly strategies below.

If you want to manage fall leaves in your garden beds but don’t have the time or the environmental know-how, we can help via our Organic Land Care services. We’ll take care of the leaves in your garden beds while conducting other stewarding tasks that are appropriate to the season.

Mulch them into perennial garden beds.

Fallen leaves provide vital nutrients (including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) for garden soil and overwintering plants. Shredding leaves and spreading them on your perennial beds creates a natural, nutritious mulch. It also suppresses weed growth, stabilizes soil moisture and temperature, and insulates plants, helping them survive colder temps.

You can shred leaves using a mower or a dedicated leaf shredder, then scoop the leaf mulch into your garden beds. Be sure to leave some room around plants’ crowns.

Note that certain trees’ leaves, such as walnuts, contain chemicals that can limit plant growth—so you probably want to keep these out of the garden.

Use them to insulate veggie crops.

If you’re still growing veggies, you can tuck leaves around cold-hardy vegetables such as beets, carrots, kale, and leeks to help them survive winter temps for as long as possible.

You can also use leaves to mulch overwintering crops such as asparagus or garlic. Or simply cover and insulate bare garden soil.

Allow them to decompose in an out-of-the-way place.

If your yard backs up to woods, you can simply pile up leaves at the woodland’s edge and allow them to naturally decompose over time. If you want leaves to decompose more quickly, collect them into several lower piles.

Alternatively, if you already have a composting system set up, you can feed leaves into the compost bins to up your ratio of carbon, or “browns.” For faster decomposition, shred the leaves before adding them to your compost.

Mulch thin layers of leaves into your grass.

Too many leaves on your lawn can smother grass. But a thin layer of leaf mulch provides nutrients that effectively fertilize your lawn without the use of harsh chemicals.

Simply run your lawn mower over light layers of leaves and allow the leaf mulch to stay where it falls. If your yard is already covered in a thick layer of leaves, you could rake away some of the leaves and then mulch the remainder.

Start new garden beds.

If you’ve been planning to create new beds using sheet mulching (aka lasagna gardening), fallen leaves can support your efforts.

Collect the leaves and layer them on top of cardboard or newspaper along with untreated grass clippings, compost, mulch, and other organic matter.

Together, these materials effectively smother grass. And as they break down, they create healthy soil that’s ready for planting.

See if your community offers leaf composting.

If you don’t want to keep fallen leaves on your property but you’re still striving to be eco-friendly, consider “donating” your leaves to a local composting service.

Some municipalities offer leaf composting via drop-off or pickup. Ask your township officials about opportunities in your area.