In fall, Mother Nature lays down a thick blanket of leaves that nurtures your garden and provides essential winter protection for pollinators. Key species like Bumble Bees and Swallowtail butterflies depend on this natural cover to shield them from the season’s harsh winds, rain, and snow, enabling them to survive until spring.
In woodlands, the leaf layer helps salamanders, toads, and frogs find an insulated winter refuge that keeps the ground warmer beneath the snow. Wood Frogs have an especially remarkable adaptation—they freeze solid during winter hibernation and thaw out in spring, ready to thrive once again.
In the same way, in our gardens, about 30% of native bees are tunnel-nesters, requiring deadwood, hollow stems, or brush piles to survive the winter months. Queen Bumble Bees burrow just 5-10 cm underground, and a thick layer of leaves provides them with crucial protection from the elements. Even Luna moths and Swallowtail butterflies camouflage their cocoons and chrysalises as dried leaves to survive winter’s chill.
Leaf litter isn’t just a win for wildlife; it’s an incredible boost for your garden, too. As the leaves break down, they enrich your soil with nutrients, improve its structure, and help it retain water. The decomposing leaves also support helpful microorganisms, keep early weeds at bay, and create a healthier, more vibrant garden come spring. Leaving the leaves doesn’t mean they must stay where they fall; you can rake them into garden beds to avoid smothering grass while still reaping the benefits.
This fall, consider leaving the leaves to support both local wildlife and your garden. For more information, check out resources from the Xerces Society, an organization dedicated to invertebrate conservation.
Peter S