Leaves on the ground? ๐Ÿ‚ This is what experts recommend you should do

Falling leaves on ground (Texas A&M Forest Service)

HOUSTON โ€“ The weather is cooler in Houston, which means leaves are changing their color and falling off the trees.

Houstonians may be wondering -- what to do with the leaves on the ground?

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The Texas A&M Forest Service says having leaves on the ground surprisingly has many benefits to our ecosystem. However, it can become a fire hazard if left in the wrong areas. They say the key to leaves around your home is finding the balance between removing and leaving them.

โ€œLeaves should be removed from these first five feet, usually the gutters, the garden beds that touch the home and where leaves gather up against wooden fences and wooden decks,โ€ said Karl Hines, Texas A&M Forest Service Coordinator. โ€œIf you choose to leave leaves in your yard, which we recommend, do so in a place that is not in one of these vulnerable locations.โ€

This is what the Texas A&M Forest Service says what you should do with leaves:

Leave them where they are

Matt Weaver, urban forester for Texas A&M Forest Service says if you look at the forest floor, itโ€™s practically leaves. โ€œOver time, those leaves break down and become organic material and eventually the soil itself,โ€ he says.

Weaver added that in urban areas, there are a lot of soil issues like compaction and that organic material is actually important for tree health.

โ€œLeaves also provide food and shelter to many insects and organisms that help keep our soil healthy,โ€ said Hines. โ€œBy leaving leaves, you are leaving the insects that are overwintering in that thermal protection layer, youโ€™re returning organic material to your soil.โ€

Create a compost pile

If the sight of leaves on your front lawn doesnโ€™t suit you, the best thing you can do is to create a compost pile.

The Texas A&M Forest Service says composting leaves is a great way to cycle nutrients back into the soil as it is a good natural fertilizer for gardens and flowerbeds.

If you choose to burn your leaves...

Burning your leaves may be a much less desirable option, but if needed, always use safe debris-burning practices, such as keeping your piles small, and clearing flammable materials away from your piles, and following all local burning restrictions. Avoid burning on dry, windy days.


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