LEAVE THE LEAVES!
Take a break from the rake and help your yard and the planet. Did you know that the leaves that fall from your trees can act as a natural mulch to improve the soil and retain moisture through the winter? Leaves provide nutrients to your yard as they decompose naturally. They also provide valuable habitat to pollinators, fireflies, and other important insects that overwinter in your yard.
Don’t want to leave the leaves on your lawn? Then gather them up and put them in the beds around your yard or at the base of the trees. Don’t shred the leaves, gather them whole to put in the beds. The leaves will act as a cozy blanket for pollinators and give them a safe place to survive the winter. By spring, those leaves will have started to decompose and will help prevent weeds from sprouting.
Save yourself some time and money, cut the bugs a break, and give our planet a rest … LEAVE THE LEAVES! 
-EGT Conservancy Board