7 Fall Yard Habits That Help Pollinators Survive Winter

The same zoning strategy applies to the lawn: “I start to cut back—not cut the lawn back, but cut back on how often I mow,” Phillips says of the turf her family still uses. As growth slows in the fall, she spaces out mowing and leaves the grass a little taller. A patch set aside as habitat is different: Once insects have settled in, leave it undisturbed through the winter rather than mowing it down.

Eierman would like to rebrand “leaf litter” as “nature’s gold.” Fallen leaves insulate bumblebee queens near the soil surface where they hibernate and shelter butterflies, moths, caterpillars, and many other invertebrates. As the leaves break down, they also return nutrients to the soil, suppress weeds, and become free mulch and compost. “Nature knows what it’s doing,” Costanzo says. “We don’t have to clean it up.”

The most practical approach isn’t necessarily to leave every leaf exactly where it lands. The National Wildlife Federation recommends moving leaves off turf, pavement, driveways, and other places where a thick or slippery layer would create problems. Rake them beneath trees or into garden beds, aiming for a layer about 3 to 5 inches deep. If you still have extras, pile them in a little-used corner and let them slowly become leaf mold. Lightly spray newly placed leaves with a hose to keep them from blowing away on a windy day.