Logo

Beauty & Safety Is Our Top Priority

Six Diamonds Tree Services, Inc

Why You Shouldn’t Blow Away Leaves from Your Trees

Published by: Six Diamonds Tree Services, Inc.                                                                                   October 20, 2023

Autumn is the season when the leaves undergo a beautiful transformation, turning colors, withering, and ultimately falling from the trees. While having a yard covered in fallen leaves may not be visually appealing, leaving them on the ground actually benefits your trees, particularly during the harsh and frigid winter months that lie ahead. Typically, we tend to remove these leaves as they mar the beauty of our meticulously maintained lawns. However, it's important to remember that these leaves can offer a wealth of nutrients to nourish and support the health of your trees.

As the autumn breeze sweeps in and the vibrant leaves gracefully descend, our natural response is to gather them up and dispose of them in our trash bins or scatter them into the nearby woods if we are fortunate enough to reside nearby. For years, this has been our routine, deeply ingrained in our minds. However, it is worth considering whether this traditional course of action truly benefits our soil's health and our trees' resilience during the unforgiving winter months.

Leaf litter plays a vital role in enriching your soil with essential nutrients, ensuring the well-being of your trees during the colder months. However, this doesn't imply that you should refrain from raking altogether. You can still remove excessive leaves, but it is advisable to leave behind a portion to serve as nourishment for your trees and other plants.

A naturalist of the National Wildlife Foundation, David Mizejewski, stated that, “The leaves fall around the root zone of these plants, where they do things like suppress weeds or other plants from growing that would otherwise compete with the trees and the shrubs,” he said.  "They slowly break down and compost right there at the base of the of the tree of the shrub, right above its root zone, where they return nutrients that the plant can then recycle and reuse next spring.”

Instead of raking or blowing leaves off your lawn, consider mowing them for a superior solution. By mowing, the leaves will be broken up and their valuable nutrients will be distributed to your lawn and trees. This process accelerates decomposition, providing quicker nourishment to your plants and trees.

An additional compelling rationale for refraining from raking or blowing your leaves is that many homeowners tend to gather the leaves and deposit them into plastic bags, which ultimately find their way into landfills. This not only contributes to emissions, as the plastic bags degrade and produce methane, but it also burdens landfills. In fact, in 2018, data from the Environmental Protection Agency reveals that landfills received approximately 10.5 million tons of yard clippings, encompassing leaves.

As you prepare to tidy up your yard this season by removing leaves, consider the benefits of mowing. By breaking up the leaves, mowing not only enhances the appearance of your yard but also retains the nutrient-rich leaves from your trees and plants. During the harsh winter months, the decomposed matter from the leaves will nourish your trees, ensuring their vitality when they awaken in the spring. For further insights into the well-being of your trees, feel free to contact us at Six Diamonds Tree Services on (845) 878-7888.

25 Apr, 2024
The Top Signs You Might Need Emergency Tree Removal
04 Apr, 2024
Can I Prune My Trees in the Spring?
22 Mar, 2024
How Tree Cranes Benefit Tree Removals
08 Mar, 2024
How To Protect Your Trees During Home & Property Construction
Six Diamonds Planting Trees
23 Feb, 2024
Are you looking to get your yard prepared for the spring, but unsure if your newly planted trees will survive the cold temperatures of winter? Learn about tree planting and its best practices.
Winter time pruning in bucket truck
09 Feb, 2024
Winter is one of the best times to prune your trees. With trees being dormant it becomes safer and easier to prune them. Learn more about why winter is the preferred time to prune your trees.
Arborists inspecting trees
26 Jan, 2024
Your trees are vital to your property, however, with potential pests getting to your trees, environmental changes, and other factors, your trees may need an inspection. These are four reasons to have your trees inspected by a tree company.
Damaged tree with uplifted roots
05 Jan, 2024
Damage can happen to your tree from bad weather such as lightening strikes or disease. It is best to hire a professional tree service company like Six Diamonds Tree Services in Pawling, NY who can help determine if your trees and can saved.
Trees beginning dormancy process
30 Dec, 2023
Trees go into their dormancy stage to survive the cold winters of Dutchess County, NY. Learn more about what dormancy is and when trees begin to enter their dormancy stage in Dutchess County, NY.
Dormant Trees in Winter
08 Dec, 2023
Do you know of your tree is dormant for the winter or if it is dead? These tips can help you determine whether your tree is in dormancy or deceased to help keep your property safe.
More Posts
Share by: