Fall is here and it’s time to Leave the Leaves

As fall settles in and leaves begin to blanket the ground, it’s the perfect time to rethink your fall garden cleanup. Instead of clearing everything away, consider leaving parts of your garden intact to create a haven for pollinators and other beneficial wildlife. Here are some eco-friendly fall gardening tips that not only support biodiversity but also prepare your garden for a vibrant spring.

1. Leave the Leaves 🍁
Fallen leaves aren’t just garden waste—they’re a crucial habitat for many pollinators. Butterfly and moth larvae, as well as other beneficial insects, use leaf litter as protection through the colder months. By leaving the leaves where they fall (or raking them into garden beds), you’re providing a winter home for these creatures. In spring, they’ll emerge to pollinate your garden, helping to keep your plants healthy and thriving.

2. Let Your Flowers Stay 🌼
Though your flowers may be fading, resist the urge to cut them back just yet. Seed heads from plants like coneflowers, sunflowers, and black-eyed Susans provide an important food source for birds during the winter months. By leaving your flowers standing, you’re offering a natural buffet for finches, chickadees, and other seed-eating birds.

3. Save the Stems for Bees 🐝
Many cavity-nesting bees, such as mason bees, rely on hollow stems to lay their eggs. Instead of cutting stems back in the fall, wait until early spring. These bees will lay their eggs in the hollow stems of perennials, like bee balm, raspberries or elderberry, where the next generation will develop safely. By delaying your cleanup, you’re giving these important pollinators a safe place to thrive.

4. Mulch, Don’t Burn 🍂
Instead of burning or hauling away fallen leaves, consider using them as mulch for your garden beds. Leaf mulch insulates plant roots and enriches the soil as it breaks down over the winter. This layer of natural protection helps maintain soil moisture and temperature while reducing the need for chemical fertilizers in the spring.

5. Create Brush Piles for Shelter 🌿
Small animals like birds and beneficial insects love brush piles. Gather branches, sticks, and twigs from your garden to create a small habitat where creatures can take refuge from harsh weather. Brush piles are also great for overwintering insects that support healthy garden ecosystems.

A Wildlife-Friendly Garden Year-Round
By following these pollinator-friendly fall garden tips, you’re not only making less work for yourself but also contributing to a healthier, more vibrant ecosystem in your backyard. Embrace the natural rhythms of the season, and you’ll see the rewards when spring comes back around—with more birds, bees, and butterflies visiting your garden!

Read more about winter habitat and why leaving the leaves is so important from the Xerces Society.