Leaf and yard waste can help pollinators

Pollinators, which include bees, butterflies, birds, beetles and bats, move pollen from one plant to another to allow plants and crops to grow. One out of every three bites of food we eat is thanks to pollinators. However, various impacts such as disease, climate change, pesticides, limited habitats and pests have stressed pollinators leading to a decline in their population. We all have a role to play to ensure pollinators remain protected – and your seasonal leaf and yard waste can help!

What you can do for pollinators in the fall

During the fall, consider keeping some leaves on the ground to provide pollinators with shelter throughout the winter.

What you can do for pollinators in the spring

Help protect pollinators by delaying any seasonal yard work to later in the spring when temperatures are around 15 degrees Celsius and above. Some pollinators use leaves and twigs as their habitat during the winter and cleaning these items up too early could hurt them. Weekly leaf and yard waste collection begins in late April each year.

Plant pollinator gardens when temperatures are consistently warm in the spring to support plants that will help pollinators grow new crops. Learn more about pollinators and some native plants that are pollinator friendly, including different types of milkweed, black-eyed Susan, and Red-Osler Dogwood.