Leave the Leaves...or Not?
Get those leaves off the lawn, but after that...maybe you're done?
Every fall, there’s renewed buzz about the idea of “leaving the leaves.” You’ll see it in gardening blogs, social media, and even national news outlets—after all, any advice that promises less yard work is bound to spread quickly. But as with most garden trends, it’s worth taking a closer look. “Leaving the leaves” can be a great idea in the right spots—and a bad one in others.
The Benefits of Leaving Leaves
Letting leaves break down naturally does offer some real advantages. Fallen leaves add valuable organic matter back into the soil, provide habitat for overwintering pollinators and beneficial insects, and act as a natural mulch that helps moderate soil temperature and retain moisture.
The National Wildlife Federation and other conservation organizations encourage gardeners to rethink the old “clean sweep” approach to fall yardwork, and for good reason: leaf litter supports butterflies, moths, bees, and countless soil organisms that help keep your garden healthy.
Learn more: National Wildlife Federation – What to do With Fallen Leaves
Where You Shouldn’t Leave Leaves
One place you should not leave leaves untouched is your lawn. A thick mat of leaves can block sunlight and trap excess moisture, smothering the grass and encouraging the growth of mold or disease. By spring, you may find dead patches where the turf couldn’t breathe.
If you’d like to recycle those nutrients into your lawn, mow over the leaves with a mulching mower or use a leaf shredder to chop them finely. The small pieces will filter down between the grass blades, decompose quickly, and feed the soil—without suffocating your lawn.
NC State Extension agrees: “(Shredded) Leaves are also a great natural mulch and can be included as a mulch layer around your landscape plants.”
Where You Can Leave Them
There are many areas of your landscape where leaves can (and should) stay put:
Under trees and shrubs: A few inches of leaf litter mimic natural forest conditions, protecting roots and supporting soil life.
In garden beds: Around perennials or in mulched areas, a light layer of leaves—no more than 3–4 inches—is beneficial. Avoid piling them directly against stems or trunks.
In wooded or naturalized areas: Let nature do its work! Leaves here decompose naturally, enriching the soil over time.
Just remember: if you can’t see the plants underneath, the layer is probably too thick. And if you have vole problems, avoid deep piles of leaves—they make perfect winter cover for these burrowing pests.
Learn more: Xerces Society – Leave the Leaves to Protect Pollinators
Finding the Balance
For many gardeners, the main reason to remove leaves comes down to appearance—neatly mulched beds and tidy lawns simply look “finished.” But you don’t have to choose between tidy and eco-friendly.
Try leaving the leaves where they help (in beds, borders, and wooded edges) and removing or mulching them where they harm (on lawns or delicate seasonal plantings like pansies). In spring, you can even mulch over remaining leaves for a natural, nutrient-rich start to the growing season.
Finding the right balance between aesthetics and ecology means your landscape can look good and do good—all year long.
