Yard clippings leaves are natural, so they don cause any problems, right?
Proper composting of yard material is a beneficial process. However depositing yard waste in streams or empty fields may create problems both from the nutrients that can stimulate excess algal growth the organic matter that rots and depletes oxygen and the blockage of streams. There’s lots of leave fall in autumn and continual wash-in of material in the most pristine watersheds, however, problems arise when the natural system is overwhelmed by excess water and excess amounts of soil and vegetation. In addition yard waste may contain non native plant materials that could be introduced to natural environments. Questions about groundwater.
