Leave Those Leaves In Your Yard Alone This Fall

Fall hits and suddenly everyone's outside with rakes like their life depends on it. Here's a wild idea: don't bother.

Fun fact: leaving leaves on the ground is actually better for your yard. Eighteen percent of people are skipping the whole leaf removal thing this year, according to a National Wildlife Federation survey. That's up from 15 percent last year. Not exactly a revolution, but people are catching on.

Leaves Aren't Trash

Leaves are actually nutrients waiting to happen. When they break down, they feed the soil. They keep moisture in. They protect plant roots. And they give insects and small animals a place to survive winter.

But decades of lawn care marketing have convinced people that leaves are the enemy. That a proper yard needs to be pristine and spotless, like some suburban showroom.