Piles of Leaves Don't Suit Your Garden! 5 Tips on What to Do with Them

04. 08. 2026

First and foremost, you need to roll up your sleeves and rake those fallen leaves into piles. Not only will this benefit your fitness, but also your lawn! You don't need to be overly thorough - it's better to rake gently and regularly. This way, the leaves won't have a chance to rot and mold, damaging your beloved grass.

There are plenty of ways to tackle this task. We're fans of the tried-and-true classic – rakes of all kinds! They're gentle on nature and just effective enough. Leaving small amounts of debris on the grass actually has its benefits. Decomposing organic matter naturally aerates the lawn and provides nutrients. Unlike a leaf vacuum, which is completely uncompromising in this regard!

However, if you left the lawn as is, there would be too much organic matter and it would start to rot instead. So rake, but in moderation!

So what next? What to do with all those leaves?

1. COMPOSTING

Leaves are excellent for composting because they help with decomposition. However, be careful with leaves from trees affected by pests or those you've recently treated with chemicals. As for walnut leaves, they stubbornly resist decomposition, so leave them out of your compost too!

2. INSULATION

For delicate plants such as rock garden plants and generally for all perennials, shrubs, and tree roots, leaves can serve as natural insulation and protection against frost. To prevent the wind from blowing the leaves away (forcing you to rake again), place a few twigs on top of the leaf layer to weigh them down without suffocating the plants underneath.

3. TAKE TO COLLECTION

And when you're out of options, take the leaf piles to a collection point or anywhere else that accepts organic waste - they'll know what to do with them!

4. FUEL FOR HEATING

In this case, we definitely don't mean burning leaves in the garden, but nicely at home in the fireplace! Dry leaves that burn easily will certainly come in handy as kindling.

5. DECORATION

Last but not least, you can move some leaves from the garden into your living room. Not entire piles, of course. But a few colorful leaves can indeed make for beautiful, natural decoration.

And what should you definitely NOT do with leaves?

DON'T BURN THEM!

DON'T THROW THEM IN THE TRASH!

DON'T TOSS THEM OVER THE FENCE TO YOUR NEIGHBOR!