Fallen leaves provide an important layer of winter insulation for a whole bunch of beneficial insects. Keep those leaves in place until spring so that they have a safe place to over-winter. (nobody likes raking anyway, right?) This helps insect populations bounce back in the spring (which in turn helps the populations of birds, bats, and the rest of the ecosystem, not to mention the pollination work many of them do!)
Shared by Barbara on Thursday September 29, 2022
Great point! Delaying garden cleanup until late spring helps for the same reasons. Insects overwinter in brush and won’t emerge until it’s warm enough in the spring. And seeds of dormant plants like black-eyed Susans and coneflowers are important food sources for birds and other creatures over the winter.