Leave the Leaves:
Don’ t Bag the Benefits
Mulching, mowing, and composting leaves can create a healthier lawn and garden, richer soil, and better habitat for local wildlife.
Nature’ s Free Fertilizer
Leaf litter returns valuable organic matter and nutrients to the soil, helping feed lawns, gardens, and trees. Leaves retain soil moisture and insulate plant roots, supporting healthier trees and gardens.
Blankets of leaves provide shelter for fireflies, butterflies, frogs, turtles, salamanders, and beneficial insects during the winter, which in turn feed our birds and wildlife.
Whether you mulch, mow, compost, or recycle your leaves, always rake or sweep leaves away from roads and storm drains to help prevent clogged drains, reduce localized flooding, and keep excess nutrients out of local streams.
This fall don’ t bag the benefits. Leave the leaves and let nature do some of the work. Learn more about leaf management and sustainable property care at MontgomeryCountyMD. gov / PropertyCare.
Three Easy Ways to Manage Extra Leaves
1. Mulch Your Leaves: Rake leaves beneath trees and into garden beds as a thick, natural mulch, Leaf mulch enriches the soil, helps retain moisture, insulates roots, and suppresses weeds, all while creating a habitat for beneficial insects and other wildlife.
2. Mow Your Leaves: Simply mow over leaves on your lawn to chop them into small pieces. Shredded leaves break down faster, returning nutrients and organic matter to the soil. It’ s an easy way to compost leaves without the extra work of raking, bagging, or hauling them away.
3. Compost Your Leaves: Composting turns leaves into a free, nutrient-rich soil amendment for your property. Combine leaves with grass clippings and organic scraps to create a healthy compost for lawns and gardens.
48 plenty I autumn harvest 2026