| When the fall season is upon us, especially when leaves fall, one of the questions and discussions I have with colleagues and clients is whether they should rake or leave the leaves to break. I have several clients with gardens open to falling leaves, so l am constantly sweeping or raking leaves up into piles and heaps and then bagging them. There are two predominant schools of thought when it comes to managing fallen leaves in the UK. The first, ‘Rake and Bag,’ advocates for the removal of leaves, while the second, ‘Leave the Leaves,’ promotes allowing them to decompose naturally. Both theories have advantages and disadvantages, depending on a person’s opinion on gardening, environmental concerns, personal behaviours regarding energies spent, and thoughts regarding gardening aesthetics. As a gardener and composter, I am a firm believer and follower of Camp One’s philosophy, such as raking and bagging. However, I also find the act of sweeping and raking therapeutic, a sentiment that I’m sure many of you share. It’s a satisfying way to connect with your garden, but I understand that not everyone feels the same way. A few leaves left after falling promote no harm to the ground or the lawn. However, an excessive surplus of fallen leaves left on the top of your grasses will create issues for you. The Leave, the Leaves Camp suggests that leaving them will prevent bags of raked leaves from being thrown into landfills. Supporters of the ‘Leave the Leaves’ approach argue that allowing leaves to decompose naturally can be beneficial. This process introduces valuable nutrients to the soil, similar to the effect of leaf mulching or leaf mould. It also provides shelter for insects and pollinators during winter, and the decomposed leaves act as a natural mulch. I can’t argue with any of Camp One’s points as beneficial to gardening; I have written about such things myself. However, the success formula, not just whether or not to rake or break leaves, applies to any industry; everything always comes back to balance. It’s important to consider what leaves you are allowing to do what and when, a factor that many Camp One Followers sometimes forget. Not all falling leaves fall equally on the soil, pathways, driveways, or footpaths. Wet leaves are an absolute hazard! Ask anyone who has slipped on wet leaves whether or not those same leaves should have been removed for the sake of the environment, and they might have a different opinion from you. It’s a reminder of the urgency of leaf management. Also forgotten at times is that leaves, whilst awarding valuable nutrients to the soils and the microorganism community, can equally create harmful bacteria, mildew and fungal issues and, in turn, cause diseases in your garden. So sure, a few leaves on the lawn may not be seen as a problem, but a thick, unmoving layering of fallen leaf material, which may continually have leaf matter fall onto it, or even harsh weather conditions like snow and flooding could encourage infections to your soils. Leaves left unmoved for too long in a garden environment, as opposed to a woodland setting, also threaten to block nutrients like moisture and sunlight, which then suffocates the soil and the plant life. Point of note – if you can’t see the plants underneath the fallen leaves, neither can the sun. So remove fallen leaves from plants. What is one to do if they choose to leave leaves? My suggestion to clients, if they do not wish for leaves to be bagged and taken from the garden, is to allocate an area of their garden and introduce a dedicated mounded leaf heap for wildlife – be this mammals, rodents, birds, amphibians, reptiles or insects. If this is considered unsightly, utilise the fallen leaf matter and move it into the ornamental flower beds to act as a mulch and layer between two to three inches deep. The leaves will have decomposed wonderfully into the soil by the following autumn [leaves can take six to eight months to decompose naturally], and should a gardener wish to hurry the process along, a handful of compost sprinkled over the leaves will accelerate everything. If they haven’t broken down, collect them and add them to your compost pile; if you don’t have one, use the matted leaves to create one. What I have found, however, is that aesthetics rule the roost in many gardens. In contrast, while many homeowners with gardens might wish to have some element of wildlife, most prefer a much cleaner and greener look, especially regarding their lawns. If you plan to rake, I suggest using a softer and kinder garden rake—a plastic-toothed fan rake—as this is much kinder to the grasses on the lawn and doesn’t pull out the roots or even use leaf grabbers. |
Effective Leaf Management: Raking vs. Natural Decomposition
A Gardener's Curiosity 
Interesting article. 🍂
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Hey Michele – many thanks – glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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You’re welcome!
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Interesting post on different schools of thought, Rory.
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Hey Eugenia, always best to have alternatives 🙂
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Exactly.
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