this post was submitted on 31 Oct 2024
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No Lawns

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The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation: Leave the Leaves!

Leaves are not litter

They're food and shelter for butterflies, beetles, bees, moths, and more. Tell friends and neighbors to just #leavetheleaves

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[–] [email protected] 36 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

The decompose into dirt. So put them where dirt already is, don't leave them where dirt is not.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago

In my town they get blown into piles by the wind and end up clogging all the storm drains, so the town is pretty strict on clearing leaves from your yard.

I compost mine over the winter, and then I have fresh fertilizer for trees in the spring. But most people just have a dozen trash bags in their yard until garbage day. Too bad.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Yup. I'll clear them off the sidewalk. I don't see any reason to more than that.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

I clear them a reasonable amount away from my house, because they may not be litter but they are a fire hazard where I live. But they still get to naturally decompose in dedicated spots.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Oh yeah that's true. I don't let them pile up right against the house. I'm not going to rake and bag them though. Trees have been here a lot longer than we have, they probably know what they're doing better than we do.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago

I had to think about this because in my town they are soggy and wet 99% of the time. Then I remembered last year I stepped on one that crunched.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 weeks ago

I live in the city but I get birds that are usually only found in the forest because they like to forage in the fallen leaves! It does make a difference.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 weeks ago
[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago

If you have a few trees you can just mow over the leaves right on the lawn which breaks them up enough for your fall fertilizer if you don't have a use for them. The last few years I've been using mine to compost in place my gardens. Haven't had to bag since

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago

When I was a kid, I heard that leaving cut grass on the ground was better for your lawn. Surprisingly, this was enough to convince my dad that I didn't need to bag the clippings when mowing.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago

Leaf blowers are the dumbest fucking shit ever

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

They also freeze and become a major hazard when left in the road

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago

tbh sounds like the roads problem maybe he needs to change