More trees please and leave the leaves

By: Robert Corletta

As we enjoy this incredible fall weather I am reminded of the gift that is the perfect autumn day.  We are so fortunate in the Cape.  A short walk invites us to marvel at the season’s splendor.  The brilliant transition of our local trees as they give way to an ever-changing palette.  Among the first are the black gums with bright reds deepening to purple, then the maples flaming bright – reds, oranges and yellow, tulip trees are next – grand and stately yellow and finally the oaks – muted reds and spent brown.  We wait in frustration to finish our raking chores as some of the oaks in their marcescence (new word, hey? means retention, in this case, of leaves – Ed.) hold their leaves, some stingily clinging till spring, just as we hold onto the last warm days as they slip away towards winter. 

One landscape maintenance practice that we can add to our stewardship efforts is to leave the leaves from our trees.  In our natural forested ecosystems the forest floor is covered in leaves.  They act as a mulch, insulating the soil and preventing erosion.  As they decompose they add nutrients to the soil.  Finally, they provide much needed habitat to smaller critters like amphibians and beneficial insects.  We may not all have a forested yard where we can leave the leaves for their natural purpose, but we can try to keep as many on site as possible.  Shredding leaves and adding them to existing garden beds or composting them with other organics such as our garden scraps for use as a soil amendment in the future.  All of these practices can help our environment and reduce the carbon used to transport and process them off-site.

We hope you had the opportunity to get out and enjoy this fall, spending time outdoors with your family and friends, amongst the trees in all their glory.  Perhaps, one last outing on the water.  Paddling the wooded edges of a cove on the Little Magothy, the ospreys have moved on, replaced by the sound of geese overhead.  The reflection of autumn leaves on the water reminds me that our beloved Chesapeake evolved amongst a forested watershed.  Let’s not take what we have for granted.  We need our trees for a livable community, our health and the health of the Bay.

Continue to celebrate the trees we love by visiting some of the Cape’s remarkable specimens.  The Cape Loves Trees initiative of the CCC was started by documenting many trees that our community considered special.  You can find that list on our website:

If you have any trees that you would like to add to the list, please share them with us at:

[email protected]

FREE TREES for Capers

The CCC is so passionate about trees that we are starting a new initiative, a free tree planting program.  Applicants will be given free native trees to plant on their property.  We will help you choose what’s best for your particular space and even help you plant it!

We are working out the details, so stay tuned as we continue our Cape Loves Trees efforts.

So…Leave the Leaves and Plant More Trees!