Leaves have become a hot topic recently (finally), so I’d like to briefly address it.

As you may recall, I hoard leaves from neighbors, in addition to keeping our own. What you see below is some of what we do with them. I’ve also discussed leaves several times previously (more, more, more).

In the ornamental garden beds, we do NOT trim most perennials until spring. Blowing leaves get caught by the dead and dying stems which hold the leaves in place all winter. The leaves act as free mulch, protecting and feeding the soil, as well as insects and the birds (especially Juncos, in my yard). Insects also live in the dead stems of many plants. Leaving them until the air warms in spring lets them survive.

Collecting leaves this way requires, nay it demands(!) laziness to be effective. I do not fight it.

In the vegetable gardens I shred leaves. Lots and lots of leaves. Everything gets covered in shredded leaves – I try to cover everything in compost first. In the spring I rake the shredded leaves into the walking rows in order to plant. In the heat of summer the leaves get pushed back onto the planting area as mulch to cool the soil and help hold water. Throughout this time the leaves are decomposing and feeding the soil.

On the lawn, which readers may recall is intentionally small, I rake the leaves. If I had a power mower I would mow at least some of the leaves into the lawn.

Does this address all of the concerns about insects in the leaves? No, I don’t think it does. Before shredding, there are likely some insects in the leaf litter I collect/shred. However, since much of the leaves I shred come from leaves people would send to the yard waste, I’m certainly not doing more harm, and I’m arguably causing less.

There is no perfect scenario, and life is full of compromise. What you see here is the compromise I make.