by Brooklyn Bridge Park on Nov 19, 2015
Without a doubt, colorful foliage is the most ubiquitous symbol of fall. People love seeing bright, beautiful leaves so much it drives a seasonal tourism boost in the northeast. Brooklyn Bridge Park, too, receives its fair share of foliage fanciers looking for leaves in the city. Visitors fixated on pretty colors might not consider what happens to the leaves once they fall. If raking leaves is your least favorite part of the season, you’ll be pleased to learn the answer.
According to BBP Horticulture Director Rebecca McMackin, leaves aren’t called leaves for nothing. Wherever possible, our gardeners let leaves lie where they fall since the decomposing leaves add nutrients back to the soil. This nutrient-rich layer of leaves, twigs, and other organic material is known as duff. Trees want their soil to have certain qualities like a favorable pH level, vitamins and minerals, which duff can help provide. Amazingly, trees can adjust the surrounding soil to fit their requirements, given the materials are available, like they are in duff. Allowing them to reuse their leaves is one of the best ways to help trees make their ideal soil.
Some leaves must be removed, though we try to minimize this as much as possible. BBP Gardeners usually clear leaves from ornamental gardens, which are mostly found around park entrances and at the edges of larger planted areas. Additionally, if disease is found, typically in the form of rusts, mildews or pests, the duff will be removed. In the end, more than just BBP’s trees and plants benefit from leaving duff behind- the left leaves also help park wildlife. Many animals, from Mourning Cloak butterflies to bumblebees, overwinter in the duff layer, emerging to pollinate our flowers in the spring. We think a healthy, vibrant park ecosystem makes for happy visitors, too.
Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York, NY, Novemba 19, 2015 - Bila shaka, majani yenye rangi ni ishara ya kila mahali ya kuanguka. Watu wanapenda kuona majani yenye kung'aa na mazuri sana hivi kwamba huchochea utalii wa msimu katika kaskazini-mashariki. Brooklyn Bridge Park pia hupokea sehemu yake ya haki ya wapenda majani wakitafuta majani katika jiji. Wageni wanaopendezwa na rangi maridadi huenda wasifikirie kinachotokea kwa majani yanapoanguka. Ikiwa kukata majani ni sehemu unayopenda zaidi ya msimu huo, utafurahi kujua jibu. Kulingana na Mkurugenzi wa Ufugaji wa BBP Rebecca McMackin, majani hayaitwi majani kwa ajili ya kitu chochote. Wakati wowote iwezekanavyo, wafugaji wa bustani huweka majani mahali walipoanguka, kwa kuwa majani yanapoharibika huongeza virutubisho kwenye udongo. Tabaka hilo lenye virutubisho vingi la majani, matawi, na vitu vingine vya kikaboni huitwa duff. Miti inahitaji udongo wenye sifa fulani, kama vile kiwango cha pH, vitamini na madini, ambayo duff inaweza kusaidia kutoa. Kwa kushangaza, miti inaweza kurekebisha udongo wa karibu ili kukidhi mahitaji yao, ikizingatiwa vifaa vinapatikana, kama vile viko katika duff. Kuwaruhusu kutumia majani yao ni mojawapo ya njia bora za kuwasaidia miti iwe na udongo mzuri. Majani fulani lazima yaondolewe, ingawa tunajaribu kupunguza kadiri iwezekanavyo. Kwa kawaida, bustani za BBP huondoa majani kutoka kwa bustani za mapambo, ambazo hupatikana karibu na milango ya mbuga na kwenye kingo za maeneo makubwa ya kupanda. Kwa kuongezea, ikiwa ugonjwa utapatikana, kwa kawaida katika fomu ya kutu, kuvu au wadudu, duff itaondolewa. Mwishowe, zaidi ya miti na mimea ya BBP tu inayostahili kutoka kwa kuacha duff nyuma - majani yaliyobaki pia husaidia wanyama wa porini wa mbuga. Wanyama wengi, kuanzia vipepeo wa Mourning Cloak hadi nyuki, huishi katika tabaka la duff wakati wa majira ya baridi kali, na huja ili kupandikiza maua yetu wakati wa majira ya kuchipua. Tunafikiri kwamba mazingira yenye afya na yenye kusisimua ya mbuga hufanya wageni wawe na furaha pia.