When leaves fall in autumn, we bag leaves as trash and put them on the curb. Some may use leaves to amend garden soil.

However, even in small outdoor spaces, leaves can be part of a wildlife habitat.

Build a leaf pile.

Providing a Safe Place

Leaf piles provide places for insects to harbor over winter. In turn, robins and other birds dine on the insects.

In some cases, a leaf pile may provide a safe place for small lizards or material for nests (think hedgehog).

On porches and patios and other ground-level areas, leaf piles also provide shelter and hibernating areas for any number of friendly-but-shy small mammals and amphibians, including toads.

Loose or In Mesh Containers

If your wildlife area is too small for a loose pile of leaves (or you don't like the untidy look), try setting up a wire mesh column as a container for the leaves.

Gardening Benefit

In the warmer days of spring the leaf pile can be mixed in with garden soil as you start your spring in-ground or container gardening.

Originally posted on September 26th, 2008, the article has been updated and revised.