Should You ‘Leave the Leaves’ on the Ground?

2023-11-10 14:01:04来源：网络

Should You ‘Leave the Leaves’ on the Ground?

你应该把树叶留在地上吗？

【原文听力】

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　　By Dan Novak

　　09 November 2023

　　There is a growing movement to leave leaves on the ground, instead of gathering them to be disposed of.

　　The idea is to avoid sending bagged-up fallen leaves to landfills. Instead they will naturally decompose over the winter into rich organic matter. The matter also shelters pollinators and other insects.

　　Done correctly, leaving the leaves is one of the best ways to turn yard waste into free fertilizer, which is good for plants, the environment, and saving money. But it is important to consider the types of leaves that are falling and where they are landing.

　　Whole leaves should not be permitted to remain on walkways, where they could make the path dangerously slippery. They should also not be left on grass lawns, where they are likely to cause disease.

　　Although some grasses can handle a small amount of leaf waste, too much can threaten their health. In areas that experience snow cover, water would become trapped between grass and leaves. That could lead to mold and other fungal infections. In areas without snow, whole leaves that cover grasses block water and sunlight from reaching the soil below.

　　Many people choose to break up the leaves using a machine and let the pieces to fall between pieces of grass. Then the pieces break down further in the soil. However, this treatment can kill insects and their eggs.

　　Another method is to take the leaves off the lawn and spread them lightly to cover garden beds. The leaves mostly break down by spring and almost entirely by summer. But if not, they should be removed before spring growth begins.

　　Leaves also can be used to make leaf mold, a type of compost made entirely from leaves. Just pile them up in a corner, add nitrogen fertilizer, and water it to keep it from drying out. It may take a year or two, but the leaves will break down into a nutritious soil.

　　Some leaves prevent the growth of other plants. Black walnut, for example, contains a poison in its leaves that kills many plants, including hydrangeas, petunias, apples, peppers, tomatoes and potatoes.

　　Avoid putting leaves in beds if the leaves are especially large or thick, like those of oaks. Their slow decomposition rates could block sunlight and water from the soil and plant roots.

　　Fallen leaves are nature's mulch. They build fertile soil, protect plant roots and shelter wildlife, in your garden, and elsewhere. Why waste that important resource?

　　I'm Dan Novak.

　　Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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　　丹·诺瓦克

　　2023年11月9日

　　越来越多的人开始将树叶留在地上，而不是收集起来处理掉。

　　这个想法是为了避免将袋装的落叶送到垃圾填埋场。相反，他们自然会分解转化成丰富的有机物质。这种物质也庇护了传粉者和其他昆虫。

　　正确的做法是，留下树叶是把庭院垃圾变成免费的最好方法之一肥料，这对植物、环境和省钱都有好处。但是重要的是要考虑落下的树叶的类型以及它们落在哪里。

　　整片叶子不允许留在人行道上，因为它们会使道路变得湿滑危险。他们也不应该被留在草坪上，在那里他们可能会导致疾病。

　　虽然一些草可以处理少量的树叶废料，但太多会威胁它们的健康。在被雪覆盖的地区，水会被困在草和树叶之间。这可能会导致模子和其他真菌感染。在没有雪的地区，覆盖在草上的完整的叶子阻止水和阳光到达下面的土壤。

　　许多人选择用机器打碎叶子，让碎片落在草叶之间。然后碎片在土壤中进一步分解。然而，这种处理可以杀死昆虫和它们的卵。

　　另一种方法是把叶子从草坪上拿下来，轻轻地铺在花坛上。树叶大多在春天分解，夏天几乎完全分解。但是如果没有，它们应该在春季生长开始前被移除。