CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Most leaves are still on the trees across the Carolinas but they'll be falling soon as the weather turns cool.
While most people choose to rake their fall leaves, there have been some reports indicating that leaving those leaves on the ground could actually serve a better purpose. But should you rake up the leaves or let them decompose to serve as a natural fertilizer?
OUR SOURCES
- Ray Betz, assistant district manager at the Davey Tree Services Charlotte office
- National Audubon Society
WHAT WE FOUND
Betz said when it comes to leaves falling-they can act like a fertilizer if you keep them on the ground
"Their natural decay kind of acts as a fertilizer," Betz explained. "So that's going to help those trees. It's also a habitat for animals and pollinators and all that stuff."
The National Audubon Society also said leaves are important because when they rot, they enrich the soil. That provides places for bugs and birds to forage for food. However, if you are in an urban setting, you don't want to have leaves all over your grass, especially after you aerate and seed.
Betz said the seeds won't germinate, so you need to rake up the leaves. But instead of throwing them away, pile them up at the base of a tree or in places where there's already much, like a flower bed or garden.
So there’s no single answer as to the best way to handle fallen leaves. But if you can put them to good use, the birds and the bees will thank you!
Contact Meghan Bragg at mbragg@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.