VOA健康报道2023 落叶该扫还是该留?

落叶该扫还是该留?

There is a growing movement to leave leaves on the ground, instead of gathering¹ them to be disposed of.

越来越多的人把树叶留在地上，而不是把它们收集起来处理掉。

The idea is to avoid sending bagged-up fallen leaves to landfills.

这个想法的目的是避免把打包装好的落叶送到垃圾填埋场。

Instead they will naturally decompose² over the winter into rich organic matter.

相反，它们会在冬天自然分解成丰富的有机物质。

The matter also shelters pollinators and other insects.

这种物质也为传粉者和其他昆虫提供庇护。

Done correctly, leaving the leaves is one of the best ways to turn yard waste into free fertilizer, which is good for plants, the environment, and saving money.

如果处理得当，留下树叶是把院子里的垃圾转化为免费肥料的最好方法之一，这对植物、环境和省钱都有好处。

But it is important to consider the types of leaves that are falling and where they are landing.

但重要的是要考虑落叶的类型以及它们落在哪里。

Whole leaves should not be permitted to remain on walkways, where they could make the path dangerously slippery.

整片树叶不应该留在人行道上，因为它们可能会使道路很滑。

They should also not be left on grass lawns, where they are likely to cause disease.

它们也不应该留在草坪上，因为它们可能会导致疾病。

Although some grasses can handle a small amount of leaf waste, too much can threaten their health.

虽然一些草可以处理少量的叶子垃圾，但过多树叶会威胁它们的健康。

In areas that experience snow cover, water would become trapped between grass and leaves.

在积雪覆盖的地区，水会被困在草和树叶之间。

That could lead to mold and other fungal infections.

这可能会导致霉菌和其他真菌感染。

In areas without snow, whole leaves that cover grasses block water and sunlight from reaching the soil below.

在没有雪的地区，覆盖在草上的整片树叶会阻止水和阳光到达下面的土壤。

Many people choose to break up the leaves using a machine and let the pieces to fall between pieces of grass.

许多人选择用机器打碎树叶，让碎掉的树叶掉落在草片之间。

Then the pieces break down further in the soil.

然后这些碎掉的树叶在土壤中进一步分解。

However, this treatment can kill insects and their eggs.

然而，这种处理方法会杀死昆虫和它们的卵。

Another method is to take the leaves off the lawn and spread them lightly to cover garden beds.

另一种方法是把草坪上的树叶取下来，轻轻地铺在花圃上。

The leaves mostly break down by spring and almost entirely³ by summer.

树叶大多在春天分解，到夏天几乎完全分解。

But if not, they should be removed before spring growth begins.

但如果树叶没有分解，则应在春季植物生长开始之前将其移除。

Leaves also can be used to make leaf mold, a type of compost made entirely from leaves.

树叶也可以用来制作腐叶土壤，这是一种完全由树叶制成的堆肥。

Just pile them up in a corner, add nitrogen fertilizer, and water it to keep it from drying out.

只需把它们堆在角落里，加入氮肥，然后浇水，以防它变干。

It may take a year or two, but the leaves will break down into a nutritious⁴ soil.

这可能需要一两年的时间，但树叶会分解成营养丰富的土壤。

Some leaves prevent the growth of other plants.

有些叶子会阻碍其他植物的生长。

Black walnut⁵, for example, contains a poison in its leaves that kills many plants, including hydrangeas, petunias⁶, apples, peppers, tomatoes and potatoes.

例如，黑胡桃的叶子中含有一种毒素，可以杀死许多植物，包括绣球花、矮牵牛花、苹果、辣椒、西红柿和土豆。

Avoid putting leaves in beds if the leaves are especially large or thick, like those of oaks.

如果叶子特别大或特别厚，比如橡树的叶子，就不要把叶子放在花圃上。

Their slow decomposition⁷ rates could block sunlight and water from the soil and plant roots.

它们缓慢的分解速度可能会阻挡土壤和植物根部吸收阳光和水分。

Fallen leaves are nature's mulch.

落叶是大自然的护根物。

They build fertile soil, protect plant roots and shelter wildlife, in your garden, and elsewhere.

它们在你的花园和其他地方建造肥沃的土壤，保护植物根系，保护野生动物。

Why waste that important resource?

为什么要浪费这么重要的资源呢？

1 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

2 decompose   

vi.分解；vt.（使）腐败，（使）腐烂

参考例句：

• The eggs began to decompose after a day in the sun.鸡蛋在太阳下放了一天后开始变坏。
• Most animals decompose very quickly after death.大多数动物死后很快腐烂。

3 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

4 nutritious   

adj.有营养的，营养价值高的

参考例句：

• Fresh vegetables are very nutritious.新鲜蔬菜富于营养。
• Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。

5 walnut   

n.胡桃，胡桃木，胡桃色，茶色

参考例句：

• Walnut is a local specialty here.核桃是此地的土特产。
• The stool comes in several sizes in walnut or mahogany.凳子有几种尺寸，材质分胡桃木和红木两种。

6 petunias   

n.矮牵牛（花）( petunia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The petunias were already wilting in the hot sun. 在烈日下矮牵牛花已经开始枯萎了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• With my porch and my pillow, my pretty purple petunias. 那里有我的前廊我的枕头，我漂亮的紫色矮牵牛。 来自互联网

7 decomposition   

n. 分解, 腐烂, 崩溃

参考例句：

• It is said that the magnetite was formed by a chemical process called thermal decomposition. 据说这枚陨星是在热分解的化学过程中形成的。
• The dehydration process leads to fairly extensive decomposition of the product. 脱水过程会导致产物相当程度的分解。