Gardening expert Alys Fowler has issued a warning to Brits about removing autumn leaves from their lawns – and says they are “essential”
Matt Jackson Trendswatch Content Editor and Natalie King
05:11, 25 Sep 2025
Raking up leaves may not be needed on your lawn(Image: Alex Treadway via Getty Images)
Gardeners have been advised against clearing autumn leaves from their lawns as their “business is far from over”. It comes as gardeners were told to get one plant ‘in the ground now’ to avoid a barren spring garden.
Ecological writer Alys Fowler suggests they are “called leaves for a reason” and can prove beneficial for the plants they originated from. She explains this is because they assist soil in storing increased amounts of carbon. Alys maintains this benefits not only your lawn but helps your entire garden absorb minerals and water more effectively.
The fallen leaves also provide shelter for insects, beetles and worms, Alys says, reports the Express. Whilst the leaves might appear untidy initially, the experienced gardener explained that winter winds will naturally disperse them.
Worms will then break them down and incorporate them deeper into the earth.
Writing in Gardeners’ World magazine, Alys states: “They’re called leaves for a reason; to be left alone to do their essential work. They may look spent but their business is far from done, both for the plant they left and the wider world around them.”
Garden leaves could help your outdoor spaces thrive(Image: Getty)
She continued: “Soil can hold up to 30 percent more carbon if the autumn leaves are left to rot. Carbon feeds the soil food web, particularly mycorrhizal fungi, which improves not only the trees’ ability to take up water and minerals, but also the lawn and wider garden.”
Alys points to the elephant hawk moth, with its striking pink and olive green colouring, as an example of wildlife that depends on decomposing leaves.
She explains that leaf litter provides crucial habitat where moths like the elephant hawk can form their cocoons. However, Lawn Association chairman David Hedges-Gower warns that leaves can “suffocate and kill” grass.
He explains that leafmould has the potential to destroy even the most robust lawns.
He maintains that allowing leaves to decompose in your garden means you’ll need to overseed come spring whilst watering regularly to preserve its condition. Nevertheless, he suggests that raking leaves and placing them on garden beds can help lawns survive winter.
He said: “Neglecting our lawns by leaving fallen leaves not only harms them but creates unnecessary work each year, increasing our unsustainable footprint. Unlike other garden areas, lawns require attention year-round.”
David considers “protecting” your lawn should be a “priority” as it contributes to creating a sustainable outdoor environment and “enhances your garden’s beauty year round”. He advocates for making lawns both manageable and environmentally friendly.
The Royal Horticultural Society states that leafmould can serve as seed-sowing compost or garden compost, particularly when it has decomposed sufficiently. Leafmould that has been decomposing for less than two years can function as mulch, soil conditioner, autumn lawn top-dressing, or winter protection for exposed soil.
It may, however, harbour weeds, meaning gardeners creating their own leafmould compost should exercise care. Meanwhile, leaves collected from streets may contain contaminants and rubbish, requiring inspection before adding to leafmould heaps.
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