Deciding not to rake leaves is a simple way to support the environment and local biodiversity while also making yard maintenance easier and more sustainable.
Pledge to Leave Your Leaves online or in-person at the Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St. and pick up a free yard sign! Yard signs measure 18 x 24 inches, are made of sturdy, weather-resistant materials, and are printed with low-VOC vegetable-based inks. There is a limit of one free yard sign per household per year.
The Town of Carrboro is partnering with the Towns of Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, Orange County, the New Hope Bird Alliance, and Keep Durham Beautiful to encourage community members to Leave the Leaves, support biodiversity, improve water quality, and reduce pollution.
Did you know that leaves are natural fertilizers and help protect wildlife? Nature’s bounty provides an opportunity to put fallen leaves to good use.
Leaving Your Leaves has several important benefits:
- Wildlife Habitat: Leaves provide winter habitat for native wildlife that are essential to a healthy ecosystem and biodiversity. Insects and pollinators such as bees and butterflies depend on leaves for shelter which in turn will boost gardens in the spring. Leaves also serve as a habitat for other wildlife such as lizards and birds.
- Soil Health: Leaves prevent soil erosion, retain moisture, act as a natural mulch by providing ground cover, and improve soil fertility by adding essential nutrients as they decompose.
- Less Pollution: Blowing and moving leaves often involves fossil fuel-powered equipment which produces greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Leaving the leaves reduces this environmental impact and the noise associated with this equipment.
- Water Quality: Leaves are natural fertilizers and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers that pollute waterways and kill beneficial fungi.
- Time Savings: Spend your days relaxing, hiking, or visiting with friends and family instead of cleaning up loose leaves.
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