Wendy's Wanderings
November 10, 2023
Leave the Leaves
Fall in Florida is when the temperatures dip into the low 70’s and the days get a little shorter. If you have hardwood trees or some tropical flowering trees, the leaves begin to drop.
Like many gardeners I enjoy raking, pruning, and tidying up the landscape as the days get cooler. It can be a good time to deadhead flowers and clean up perennial plants. In a Florida-Friendly landscape, the raked leaves and clippings have gone straight to the compost or brush pile. But as we learn more about the life cycles of many beneficial insects, we are changing our tune. Researchers are recommending that we leave the leaves and small branches in place to provide overwintering space for beneficial insects.
When the temperatures are warm there are insects all around your yard. You may have even planted specific plants to attract butterflies, bees, and other beneficials. These critters don’t go away in the winter; they stay in your yard, tucked away in different forms. Mostly they are overwintering in dried leaves, under or in twigs, or in soil. Bumblebee queens can be found riding out the winter under branches or leaves, and solitary bees lay eggs in soil or in tree snags during the cooler months. Many moth and butterfly pupae seek winter protection from the elements in loose soil or under fallen leaves.
It isn’t just the insects that benefit from leaving the leaves — snails, worms, and spiders hide out in the leaf layer too. These in turn feed lizards, amphibians, and birds. Remember that many of our birds are eating insects in the garden. In my yard, it's the Carolina wrens and the Eastern blue birds that constantly have some bug in their beak.
I know you're thinking that you might get a nasty-gram from your HOA if you don’t keep your yard perfectly raked. If this is the case you can move the leaves into your mulched beds, under trees, or along fence lines. They will have the same affect of providing for wildlife. The association won’t notice, but the insects will. And remember that landscaping practices are contagious. If your neighbors see and understand the intention of creating a more natural environment for habitat they may too. Leaving the leaves also keeps your soil moist, builds up organic matter, and nourishes the soil biota. It is a win-win for a healthy landscape and for a welcoming overwintering place for beneficial insects.
-- Wendy Wilber