Autumn in the British outdoors is blooming marvellous. The changing season means that every garden gets front row tickets to nature's most vibrant and colourful show of the year (best enjoyed from a comfy chair and hot drink in hand, naturally). But it does bring a familiar dilemma each time it rolls around: what to do with all the fallen leaves? It’s tempting to pull on your wellies, grab a rake and start tidying the second the leaves start to fall, but this year, we’re giving you full permission to put your feet up instead. Well, mostly. Leaving some leaves right where they are provides valuable shelter for garden wildlife, helps return organic matter to the soil and can be turned into a brilliant gardening resource. A little less autumn tidying could do your garden, and your weekend plans, a surprising amount of good.

Why are fallen leaves good for garden wildlife?

Fallen leaves do an important job in the autumn garden. They provide a cosy winter shelter for hedgehogs, frogs and countless smaller creatures as the temperatures drop. Leaf litter provides damp, sheltered places for invertebrates such as beetles, spiders and woodlice, while the creatures living among the leaves become a vital buffet for garden birds and other wildlife. Even the smallest critters have an important part to play in the food chain, so by helping them out you help out everything else. As the leaves break down, fungi and other organisms return organic matter to the soil too, which supports the wider garden ecosystem. Leaving a little leaf litter undisturbed is a simple way to give nature a helping hand and you don't need a gigantic country estate to make a difference which is nice. Even a small patch beneath a shrub or a pile of leaves tucked into an undisturbed corner can provide a very welcome habitat.

Where should you leave fallen leaves?

You don't have to choose between a completely tidy garden and one that's good for wildlife. Instead, think about where the fallen leaves can do the most good without getting in the way.

Beneath hedges, shrubs and trees

These are excellent places to leave a natural layer of leaf litter. The leaves can gradually break down and they’re nicely out of the way of your everyday garden pottering. Where leaves fall beneath trees, you can often leave them to decompose naturally. They return all of that lovely organic matter back into the soil and helps maintain a more natural environment around the tree.

Create a wild area of garden

If you prefer a tidier garden, then designate an undisturbed corner that you can leave over autumn and winter. This gives wildlife somewhere to shelter without leaving leaves scattered across the areas you use most. Just be sure to check carefully before moving or dismantling established piles later on, as local residents (of the prickly or amphibious variety) may well be making use of them.

In flower beds and borders

Leaves can be left to break down around established plants, provided they aren't smothering smaller plants or creating an excessively thick, wet layer.

Where should you clear fallen leaves?

We aren't suggesting that you abandon the rake entirely, there are some areas of the garden that definitely do benefit from leaves being cleared. Keep on top of these areas throughout autumn:

Lawns

A thick covering of leaves can block light from reaching the grass and trap moisture, potentially weakening or damaging it over time. Light scatterings can often be dealt with by mowing, provided the leaves are suitable for your mower, while heavier accumulations should be raked up and used elsewhere in the garden.

Paths, steps and patios

Wet leaves quickly turn into a skating rink, particularly in shaded areas. Clear them regularly to keep walkways safe. 

Drains and gutters

Keep drainage points clear so leaves don't obstruct the flow of water. Take care when clearing gutters, and avoid climbing onto roofs or using unstable ladders.

Diseased plants

For example, fallen rose leaves infected with black spot should be removed to help reduce the spread of the disease. Follow local guidance on disposing of infected plant material.

Garden furniture

Leaves can collect on tabletops, seats and around chair legs, particularly after windy weather. Brush them away regularly to keep your furniture clean and stop debris building up in crevices. It's worth storing any cushions away between uses to protect them from fallen leaves, chuck them into a garden storage box and they'll stay nice year after year.  

What can you do with the leaves you collect?

Once you've cleared the lawn, patio and paths, those leaves don't need to go to waste. Think of them as free garden supplies! There are some great ways to make use of them.

Make leaf mould

Leaf mould is a crumbly, organic material made from decomposed leavees. Most leaves can be used for this, just bear in mind that thick, leathery leaves like holly and ivy will take longer as they break down more slowly. Collect your fallen leaves and place them in a wire enclosure made from garden mesh or chicken wire, secured into a cylinder with stakes or ties. If the leaves are dry, moisten them slightly before storing then wait for the magic to happen. Shredding leaves first with a lawn mower, leaf shredder, or with garden shears can help them to break down quicker. Leaf mould made from whole leaves often takes around two years to mature. Once it's ready, it can be spread around your established plants as a mulch or incorporated into potting mixes.

Add them to your compost

Compost is generally ready to use quicker than leaf mould, it can take as little as six months if you manage it well. Where leaf mould is a soil conditioner, compost enriches the soil with more nutrients so has a different use. Smaller quantities of fallen leaves can go onto your compost heap alongside a mixture of your other garden and kitchen waste. This keeps a good balance of nutrients and gives you the best result. 

Use them as a natural mulch

Fallen leaves can be spread beneath established trees and shrubs as well as other suitable plants without any prior steps to break them down. They gradually decompose and improve the soil. Just avoid piling them thickly against plant stems or allowing heavy, wet layers to smother smaller plants. A thinner, more even covering is your best bet.

 So, should you leave the leaves in your garden? Yes, in the right places. The trick is knowing where they can stay, where they need clearing and what to do with the ones you collect.