Leave the leaves under shrubs, hedges and on beds: there they protect the soil and tender plants from frost and turn into humus. Rake them off the lawn, paths and evergreen ground-cover plants, however, where they block light and encourage rot. Any surplus goes on the compost or onto a leaf pile.
Why are leaves useful on beds?
A layer of leaves works like a blanket: it keeps the soil moist, softens sharp swings in temperature and protects the roots of tender perennials from frost. Soil organisms break the leaves down over winter and turn them into humus, which feeds your plants in spring. That saves you some of the fertiliser.
Where do the leaves have to go?
- Lawn: under a closed layer of leaves the grass gets no light, turns yellow and becomes prone to fungal diseases and moss.
- Paths and steps: wet leaves become slippery.
- Evergreen cushion plants and garden ponds: leaves make cushions rot and load the water with nutrients as they decompose.
Where should the rest of the leaves go?
A loose leaf pile in a quiet corner of the garden, ideally with a few branches underneath, makes a winter shelter for hedgehogs, insects and other small creatures. Oak, walnut and chestnut leaves break down slowly, so mix them with other garden waste on the compost. Only if space is short do they belong in the green waste bin.
Why a rake rather than a leaf blower?
Leaf vacuums and blowers do not just pick up leaves but also insects, spiders and other small creatures, and they are loud. For a home garden, a rake or broom is the gentler choice and is enough for most areas.
Leaves also protect frost-tender plants that you do not lift in autumn. What else matters for winter protection is covered in the article Protecting plants in winter.