In Defense of Plants Podcast

Ep. 549 - Advocating for Fallen Leaves

Oct 26, 2025
Naturalist David Mizejewski, a seasoned communicator for the National Wildlife Federation, advocates for leaving fallen leaves to support ecosystem health. He delves into storytelling as a tool for conservation, discusses overcoming HOA barriers to natural gardening, and highlights the benefits of leaf litter for wildlife habitats. David explains how leaves provide crucial shelter for pollinators and small mammals while emphasizing the importance of composting. He encourages listeners to be approachable advocates, making local impacts in the fight for sustainable gardening.
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INSIGHT

Dead Plants Support Life

  • Dead plant parts host rich ecosystems and perform key habitat functions.
  • David Mizejewski: "Dead plants are full of life."
ANECDOTE

Thrashers Foraging In Leaf Piles

  • Matt watches brown thrashers forage actively in his leaf piles after he keeps leaves in garden beds.
  • Seeing wildlife responses motivated him to wonder what else the leaf layer supports.
ADVICE

Use Leaves As Natural Mulch

  • Keep as many fallen leaves on your property as possible and use them as mulch in planting beds.
  • Move leaves off lawns if needed, but repurpose them around root zones to retain moisture and return nutrients.
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