Firefly fans. Luna Moth lovers. Woolly Bear worshipers—Now is the time to take action. Leave the leaves! It’s crucial to biodiversity. Fallen leaves host these beloved insects and more who overwinter in them. They also enrich the soil when they decompose. And they reduce waste by staying out of landfills. The EPA estimates that the US sends about 35 million tons of yard waste to the landfill annually, adding to already high levels of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. According to the National Wildlife Federation, “solid-waste landfills are the largest U.S. source of man-made methane.”
While it’s best to leave the leaves where they land in your yard, we know it’s not always possible. Rake them under trees, shrubs, and in beds to use as free— beneficial—mulch. Store the rest in a leaf basket you create out of fallen branches. Perfect Earth Project founder Edwina von Gal has created chic “baskets” at her property to store fallen leaves and keep them out of the landfill. Learn how you can do it at home.
Gather branches.
We’re having more storms. Big storms—just ask anyone in the Northeast after last weekend’s Nor’easter. But don’t despair. Gather those fallen branches and put them to good use.
More intense storms bring fallen branches. Round them up and use them to create leaf baskets. (Read more about other ways to use the biomass on your property and close the loop.)
Layout the shape.
Using larger branches, map out the shape of your basket. The size is up to you. Create a cluster of smaller baskets or build one large one.
Weave them together.
Now start building. Lay down branches, overlapping and tucking them into each other to form a cohesive unit. Trim branches as you need to make them fit. Keep adding more branches, building layer after layer, until you reach your desired height. You can continue adding branches as you find them throughout the year to reinforce the structure. Just make sure to weave them into other branches so that they’ll stay in place.
Tim Wheeler, Perfect Earth’s Living Lands director, recently created his own leaf basket after a series of intense storms gave him lots of fallen branches. He adds to it throughout the year.
Add leaves.
Rake leaves off of paths and driveways and place them into your basket. The basket will keep them contained and the leaves and branches will decompose over time, enriching the soil beneath it.
by Melissa Ozawa
This is part of a series with Gardenista.
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