Leaves

Recently I was given half a dozen back issues of various gardening magazines one dated November 2024 contained an article where two people, an ecological gardener and a lawn expert argue for or against removing dead autumn leaves from our lawns. The lawn expert understandably was against leaving leaves on lawns as it can suffocate and kill the grass however he did acknowledge that leaves excel as compost. The case put for leaving leaves in place to break down was most interesting and informative. Leaf drop is an ancient adaptation first appearing around 100 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous period so this 'mechanism' is perhaps the oldest carbon capture on our planet as soil can hold 30 percent more carbon if autumn leaves are left to rot, the resulting carbon feeds the soil food Web particularly mycorrhizal fungus which in turn improves the trees ability to take up water, also the layer of rotting material helps insulate the soil in winter this in turn results in a better soil structure and helps hibernating insects from drowning-insects required as a food source for ground feeding birds. Of course we clear the leaves from paths and gravestones bagging them in jute bags piled to rot down. The result is a fantastic environment for worms who reward us with our own pile of lovely compost to use when planting up. A secondary advantage is zero packaging and zero road miles for delivery.

Wishing everyone a peaceful Christmas.