As leaves change colour and fall to the ground, many of us prepare to rake away the dead debris. But beneath the leaves is a world teeming with life. Let’s dive into the pile and uncover the benefits of this hidden underworld. You may be surprised by what’s lurking beneath.
Leaf litter is dead leaves, twigs, branches, flowers, and other plant matter found on the ground in forests, yards and gardens. This dead matter feeds the living. It may sound like a Halloween horror story but is a critical aspect in the life cycle of a healthy ecosystem. This organic layer serves as both habitat and a source of nutrients for the creatures living there.
It’s Not Black Magic, it’s Bio-magic
The process of turning the dead into useful products for the living might sound like black magic, but it’s a natural process mostly attributed to one category of organisms – the FBI. In this case, FBI stands for fungi, bacteria and invertebrates.
These decomposers are preforming the secret service of breaking down dead organic matter and recycling nutrients, such as nitrogen and carbon, back into the soil. Nutrients are then carried via the mycorrhizal network, an underground network of mycelium (aka fungi). This fungal network acts as a dark “web” under the ground that connects plants and aids in the uptake of water and nutrients.
Thank a Creepy Crawly
Invertebrate species like earthworms, snails and millipedes play a crucial role beneath the leaves. They break up leaf litter into smaller pieces either physically through nesting and foraging behaviour or by eating the organic material and adding it back to the pile as feces. Bacteria and fungi help breakdown organic matter by adding enzymes that release nutrients back into the land.
What Should I do on my Property?
Leaf litter is more than just fallen leaves; it’s a crucial component of healthy ecosystems. Drop the rake and leave those leaves where they are! Sometimes less is more. Loving the leaf litter? Watch our video to learn more.