Hello again, Westside Gardeners.
What is phyllophobia, and why is it such a harmful horticultural practice?
Phyllophobia, also known as CRD (Compulsive Raking Disorder), is the fear of allowing any fallen leaves to remain on the ground.
It is the antithesis of how nature’s cycle works because compulsive raking does not allow the debris to decompose and enrich the soil. Additionally, fallen leaves create a water and air repelling crust that increases runoff onto your sidewalks and streets.
I see this issue of CRD throughout the Westside. People think they need to blow fallen leaves out of their planter beds because they think their planter beds need to be clean like their kitchen floor.
Fallen leaves decompose into a rich humus through humification.
Microorganisms decompose a large portion of soil organic matter into organic minerals that the roots of plants and trees can absorb as nutrients.
Mark Koehler of Los Banos is an arborist and master gardener who has degrees in landscape architecture and landscape horticulture from UC Berkeley and Northeastern University. Please send any questions or comments to markgardenguru@gmail.com.
