Project Planet: What leaving the leaves does for the environment
There are several ways to go about leaving the leaves
CINCINNATI (WXIX) - Homeowners can help their lawns and plants by keeping fallen leaves rather than removing them, according to a University of Toledo environmental sciences expert.
Dr. Todd Crail, a lecturer with the University of Toledo’s Department of Environmental Sciences, said mulching leaves by mowing over them provides nutrients to grass.
“People will be very surprised by how much leaves can disappear and how quickly they disappear if they are mulched up and fed into the lawn,” Crail said.
Fall leaves contain carbon, a nutrient plants need to grow. Fallen leaves provide this nutrient directly to grass and plants when left to compost.
Homeowners can also leave leaves intact on their property. This creates natural habitat for local wildlife, including insects that rely on leaves to lay their eggs.
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