A leaf blower may be one of the first tools many gardeners reach for when autumn leaves cover the lawn, wildflower garden, and flower beds. But in 2026, Penn State Master Gardener Dianne Machesney, who works with Penn State Extension in Allegheny County, is encouraging gardeners around Pittsburgh and beyond to rethink that perfectly clean fall garden. Penn State Extension explains that fallen leaves and plant debris can provide important winter habitat for pollinators, while leaves can also work as a natural mulch and soil amendment as they break down. For home gardeners already growing flowers, plants, and wildflowers, leaving part of the fall garden alone can have benefits long after the flowers disappear.And there is strong science behind keeping at least some of those leaves. A new peer-reviewed study of residential yards in Maryland found that removing autumn leaves reduced the abundance of insects and other arthropods emerging the following spring by 17%. The effect was particularly striking for moths and butterflies: their abundance dropped by 45%, while species richness fell by around 40% where leaves had been removed. For anyone growing wildflowers, native plants, pollinator gardens, or perennial flower beds, the research offers a compelling reason to think before clearing every fallen leaf from the garden.