This is the time of year when Nicole Hughes gets constantly distracted by the fall foliage as she drives around North Carolina. "I'm always looking," says Hughes, a biologist at High Point University.

Fall foliage draws leaf peepers outdoors to glimpse the colors, and enthusiastic yard-tenders into the garden shed to reach for their rakes. Or worse, for their leaf blowers. Yes, they’re noisy, but ...

You can still have a pretty, well-maintained outdoor space. Raking, blowing, and bagging dead leaves: an essential part of fall yard cleanup, right? Well, as eco-friendly landscaping becomes ...

Deciding whether to rake leaves depends on your property type and gardening goals. Leaving leaves on the ground provides shelter for insects and recycles nutrients into the soil. Thick layers of wet ...

Falling leaves in autumn are part of a tree's natural cycle of entering dormancy for the winter. Leaving fallen leaves in your yard provides crucial habitat for overwintering insects and amphibians.

Scientists have long questioned whether the vibrant colors of fall foliage serve an evolutionary purpose. One theory suggests red pigments protect leaves from sun damage, allowing trees to absorb more ...