Autumn chores ahead? Nature advocacy group suggests putting them off for now
If you're looking out your window at a pile of leaves needing raking, a national wildlife conservation group is saying that job may not be as urgent as you might think.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) says leaving fallen leaves on the lawn in your yard is a simple gesture that can help promote biodiversity.
That's because a lot of native species of insects don't migrate to warmer climates and need a safe spot to hibernate over the winter, experts say. Even some animals need the material to survive the frigid temperatures.
"Many animals, such as toads, frogs and some moths and butterflies, have adapted to hibernate in the leaf litter," said Samantha Knight, an ecologist and the NCC's national conservation science manager in a release. "The leaves provide an insulating blanket, which can help protect these animals from the cold and temperature fluctuations during the winter."
Your lawn soil can also be improved if you let the leaves break down where they fall too, Knight says, but only if they're spread out.
Thick piles of leaves can inhibit grass and plant growth, so it's important to clean up problem areas and put any excess into your compost bin.
"We might as well allow for the leaves to naturally break down in our yards and fertilize our lawns," Knight said.
It's not just your lawns that can provide critical hibernation space for animals and insects, the NCC adds. Branches, dead stalks from perennials are also important.
"By cleaning up our yards and gardens entirely, we are removing important over-wintering habitats for native wildlife in our communities," she said.
According to the NCC, approximately 80 per cent of Canadians live in towns and cities, so backyard biodiversity is very important, especially with habitat loss elsewhere.
The group also suggests that if you have excess leaves you don't want on your lawn, you can pile them around the base of shrubs, trees and in your flower beds to protect plants from the freeze-thaw cycle.
Leaves should always be removed from sidewalks to ensure they don't create hazardous conditions when they freeze, the NCC says. Pine needles, which are very acidic, should also be cleaned up because they can damage your lawn and even the roof of your home.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
BREAKING Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
A fight to protect the dignity of Michelangelo's David raises questions about freedom of expression
Michelangelo's David has been a towering figure in Italian culture since its completion in 1504. But in the current era of the quick buck, curators worry the marble statue's religious and political significance is being diminished.
Doctors visiting a Gaza hospital are stunned by the war's toll on Palestinian children
An international team of doctors visiting a hospital in central Gaza was prepared for the worst. But the gruesome impact Israel’s war against Hamas is having on Palestinian children still left them stunned.
China's latest EV is a 'connected' car from smart phone and electronics maker Xiaomi
Xiaomi, a well-known maker of smart consumer electronics in China, is joining the country's booming but crowded market for electric cars.