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Leave the Leaves: Think Before You Rake with David Mizejewski, Ep 312

Happy Leave the Leaves Month, plant friends! Did you guys know that was a thing that plant parents celebrate in October? It's actually one of the simplest, most low-maintenance, and laziest things that you could do to increase the diversity in your yard and save the planet!

And the perfect person to talk to about that is none other than my plant friend, David Mizejewski, a naturalist from the National Wildlife Federation, and a total plant nerd. He made a compelling argument for why we should all leave our leaves with intention. Let's dive in!

In this episode, we learn:

[03:03] How David became the ultimate “nature geek” and advocate for wildlife-friendly gardening
[04:17] Why October is officially “Leave the Leaves Month”
[05:19] How did David land his dream job working with wildlife?
[06:45] The connection between native plants, birds, and pollinators
[07:44] Why conventional lawns are one of the worst habitats for wildlife
[09:02] Sustainability goes mainstream: rewilding and native plant buzz
[11:09] What is the role of leaves in biodiversity?
[11:38] Yard ≠ lawn: why “leave the leaves” doesn’t mean smothering turf
[14:05] Use leaves as free mulch/fertilizer in beds (not piled on the lawn)
[14:46] Bring mindfulness and melody to your garden moments with the soothing sounds of Wind River Wind Chimes!
[16:26] Sweeten your mornings and nourish your gut naturally with the pure, nutrient-rich flavor of Manukora Honey!
[18:00] How leaves naturally retain moisture, suppress weeds, and feed soil
[19:26] How bagged leaves release methane in landfills and worsen climate change
[23:12] What’s hiding in your leaf litter? (Meet the caterpillars, salamanders, frogs, and more!)
[24:58] How some moths, fireflies, and birds depend on fallen leaves
[28:44] Why you should ditch the leaf blower and use a rake instead
[30:00] Under-leaf all-stars: isopods, earthworms, and other recyclers
[31:29] How fireflies and other amphibians depend on leaves
[34:01] How Bumblebee queens overwinter beneath leaves
[38:31] How to “leave the leaves” the right way: raking, composting, and layering
[43:00] Too many leaves? What to do when your garden beds are full
[45:33] How to get your town or HOA on board with sustainable yard practices
[47:37] How small local actions fight climate change
[48:44] David’s Halloween costumes and wildlife fun facts
[49:51] Take the pledge + NWF “Leave the Leaves” hub
[51:31] Where to follow David, NWF, and Garden for Wildlife

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What Leaves Do for Your Garden

At this time of year, you notice that deciduous trees are getting ready to go dormant for the winter, and the leaves fall down, covering the root zones of the plants that they just fell off. But right there, they keep moisture, suppress weeds, and just naturally become nutrients to other plants.

And these are all done for free. Yet over the last 50 or 80 years, we’ve been marketed to and trained by the big industries that we have to get out there and get rid of all of the leaves, bag, it up to throw away, and then buy mulch and fertilizer… from them. It’s kind of insane how we’re so gaslit into doing these things.

The Climate Cost of Throwing Leaves Away

When we bag our leaves and put them in the trash, they get sent to the landfill. And unfortunately, they don’t break down like they do in the forest without oxygen.

Without all those things, organic matter decomposes slowly, and that releases methane, which is a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide.

David shared that we Americans send around 10 million tons of yard waste to landfills every year, making them the third-largest source of methane emissions in the country.

So yes, that bag of leaves on the curb doesn’t just represent a lost opportunity for soil health but also contributes to climate change.

So, as part of the Leave the Leaves month, please keep your leaves where they fall, compost them, or use them in your garden beds, because these small acts will add up if we do it as a community.

Wildlife That Need the Leaf Layer

The leaf layer is a very important habitat for so many different kinds of wildlife. So we tend to think of wildlife as the big animals like wolves or bears, but there are hundreds or thousands of species that can safely live right alongside us if we just give them a little bit of habitat.

Pollinators & Moths: As many as 94% of moths overwinter as pupae in the fallen leaves and removing them destroys next year’s pollinators.
Birds: Many backyard birds feed their babies insects from that leaf layer (especially moth caterpillars).
Fireflies: Their larvae depend on moist leaf litter so that means no leaves = fewer fireflies.
Amphibians & Small Critters: Salamanders, toads, and even red bats hibernate in the leaf layer.
Bumblebees: When a hive dies in the winter, the new queen emerges and goes under the leaf layer to overwinter.
Soil Recyclers: Roly-polies, worms, and isopods recycle decaying leaves into fertilizer.

How to Leave the Leaves (Without Losing Your Lawn)

One of the biggest points David made is how many people equate “yard” with “lawn.” So when we say leave your leaves in the yard, we’re not saying to just leave the leaves on your lawn.

If you do that (because you have an HOA or it's just your aesthetic), the leaves will smother your lawn if there's a thick enough layer.

What you should do instead is to use them as natural mulch. Spread them 3 to 5 inches deep around the trees, shrubs, and perennials, but you don’t want to push them right up against tree trunks because rotting can happen.

If you have too many leaves, you can compost them or check if your town has a municipal composting program. And when you’re cleaning up, please, for the love of all leaves, skip the gas-powered leaf blower. A simple rake works just as well, keeps the peace, and doesn’t disturb the wildlife already settling in for winter.

A Simple Way to Make a Big Difference

The “Leave the Leaves” movement is very achievable, and you don’t need fancy equipment or a new landscape design. You just need to stop doing something. Stop bagging the leaves, stop fighting nature, and start letting your yard be a little wilder.

When spring comes and you see birds feeding their babies, or fireflies lighting up your garden in summer, you’ll know your small act helped.

It’s easy. It’s free. And it’s one of the most joyful ways to care for the planet right outside your door.

Take the Pledge

If you’re ready to join the movement, visit their page to take the official pledge from the National Wildlife Federation. You’ll get resources on sustainable gardening and wildlife-friendly landscaping, plus the satisfaction of knowing you’re part of something bigger.

So this fall, let’s do less and let the leaves do their work.

Mentioned in our conversation:

Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Other Backyard Wildlife by David Mizejewski
Videos featuring Naturalist David Mizejewski
Book David – Naturalist David Mizejewski
Growing Joy 308: Groundcovers That Work: Low-Maintenance Plants for Every Garden with Kathy Jentz

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

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Manukora

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Go to manukora.com/bloom to get 25% off the starter kit that includes their 850+ Manukora honey jar, 5 honey travel sticks, a wooden spoon, and a guidebook.

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