Rake expectations: should we be picking up leaves at all?

Leaves aren't litter — they’re the forest’s own recycling system, a slow-release nutrient pack designed to feed soil life and shelter small creatures through the colder months. When they decompose, they release essential nutrients, improve soil structure, and even help lock away a little carbon

Dr Michelle McKeown: "A thin scattering of leaves is nature’s own mulch, retaining moisture and feeding the soil as it breaks down. But leave them in thick, soggy mats and they’ll smother grass, foster mould, and block sunlight from early bulbs like snowdrops and crocuses. In other words, moderation really is the secret to a happy garden."

Every autumn, as pavements turn into patchworks of gold and russet, Irish gardens begin their annual choreography: rakes emerge, leaf blowers roar, and compost bins swell with what we call 'waste'. Yet there’s a growing chorus of environmental voices urging us to drop the rake and let nature take its course.

So, who’s right, the tidy gardener or the lazy ecologist?