Hillsboro is a Bee City USA. We support creating sustainable habitats for pollinators and spreading the word about the critical role bees play in our ecosystem.
Fallen leaves are an essential component of a pollinator-friendly habitat. The leaves not only reintroduce carbon and other nutrients into the soil as they decompose to support perennial plants, but they also provide pollinators shelter from the elements, camouflage, and even food for the winter.
Consider supporting healthy habitats for pollinators by keeping fallen leaves in your yard this winter. Your backyard is a great place for establishing a pollinator friendly winter habitat. Here are a few guidelines to help you get started.
What You Can Do
- Where possible, let the leaves remain in gardens and allow them to build up over time. Fallen leaves have the same weed suppression and moisture retention properties of shredded wood mulch—and they’re free!
- Keep leaves whole, they can be piled around ornamental trees, shrubs, and perennials.
- Avoid using pesticides including insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides in your yard.
- Grow pollinator friendly plants.
Interested in Attracting Pollinators to Your Garden? Learn more about Bee City USA.
Original source can be found here.
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