Leave those leaves alone

• Leave a layer of leaves on the ground
• Put piles of leaves under trees or shrubs
• Helps with backyard biodiversity

Raking this time of year may seem like a laborious task, but it might help nature if you leave a few fallen leaves on the ground.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) advises homeowners to leave a layer or two on lawns.

“It’s kind of like free fertilizer, saving you a few bucks next spring because a few of those leaves they’ll break down and enrich your soil,” Andrew Holland, NCC Spokesperson told Kelowna10.

“But also [it helps] insects because it provides them with an insulation blanket of sorts. And those insects, they’re a really important food source for birds.”

If raking leaves is still something homeowners want to do, Holland stressed the importance of not leaving big piles around over winter.

“Even though they’re great for kids to jump in, at some point you should pick them up because they will leave a big moldy spot on your lawn,” he said.

In a media release, the NCC said piles of leaves can still be kept in yards at the bases of trees, shrubs or even on flower beds.

With about 80 per cent of Canadians living in towns and cities, backyard biodiversity is becoming increasingly important.

“We often hear about climate change, but we don’t know what to do… what can we do about it on an individual level?” Holland explained.

“That’s why we created that website called Small Acts of Conservation challenge. These are tips that people can do in their own backyard to make a difference.”