Wildlife garden

Leaving the leaves: where you can and where not

In autumn, leave fallen leaves under shrubs, in borders and under the hedge, and rake whatever lands on the lawn or path over there or onto a leaf pile: they feed the soil, and hedgehogs and insects overwinter in them.

Updated on 11 October 2026

What to do

Rake leaves off the lawn, the path and the pond: there they smother the grass or make the water too rich.
Spread them in a 5–10 cm layer under shrubs, in borders and under the hedge.
Make a leaf pile from what is left in a quiet corner, if you like in a wire cage, as shelter for hedgehogs.
Don’t use a leaf blower or leaf vacuum: they suck up insects and small animals.
Leave the leaf pile undisturbed until April, then use the leaf mould as a mulch.

Why it helps

A layer of leaves protects the soil from frost and drying out, and earthworms and soil life turn it into humus over the winter.
Hedgehogs, toads, ladybirds, butterflies and many other insects overwinter in and under the leaves. Clear everything away and you clear them away too.

Which plants?

Beech Fagus sylvatica Broadleaf tree · flowers April–May Native
Hornbeam Carpinus betulus Broadleaf tree · flowers April–May Native
English oak Quercus robur Broadleaf tree · flowers April–May Native
Hazel Corylus avellana Shrub · flowers January–March Native
Wood anemone Anemone nemorosa perennial · flowers March–May NativePoisonous
Sweet woodruff Galium odoratum perennial · flowers April–June Native
English bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta bulb or tuber · flowers April–May NativePoisonous
Oxlip Primula elatior perennial · flowers March–May Native

When?

October–December.

Garden jobs in October Garden jobs in November Garden jobs in December

Take up the challenge

Leave the leaves (October–November)
Leave leaves under shrubs or make a leaf pile: a winter shelter for hedgehogs and insects.

Go to Challenges and badges

Did you know? Oak and walnut leaves break down slowly and are slightly acidic: mixed with other leaves or in a pile, they still become fine leaf mould after a year or two.