Leaves provide natural winter protection for butterflies, moths, bumble bees, and beneficial critters like beetles, millipedes, and spiders. If you have an abundance of leaves, rake them into shrubs, trees, flower, or vegetable gardens. The leaves suppress weeds and insulate the roots.

Leaves blown into the lake act like a brewed cup of phosphorus tea, encouraging aquatic plant and algae growth. Preventing nuisance levels of plants and algae requires keeping phosphorus on the land and out of the lake.