Gardening expert Michael Griffiths has warned gardeners to clear fallen leaves from their lawns this autumn, saying that leaving them can lead to dead, brown patches. In a recent video, he said: “I hate to tell you this, but you’re about to have a load of people telling you to leave the leaves, but that’s not always a good idea.”
Why leaves harm lawns
While leaves that fall directly onto soil can be left alone to act as mulch and provide shelter for wildlife, leaves on lawns should be removed. Michael explained: “But if they land on your lawn and you leave them, you’ll end up with dead, brown patches, as they’ll stop the sunlight and air reaching the grass.”
Fallen leaves block sunlight, trap moisture, and restrict airflow, suffocating the grass and encouraging fungal growth. Grass needs light for photosynthesis, and a thick layer of leaves weakens and discolours the blades underneath. Wet leaves also create a heavy barrier that keeps soil from drying out, promoting moss growth and decay.
How to remove leaves
Gardeners can simply scoop up the leaves or use a leaf blower. If the blower has a vacuum setting, sucking them up is an even better method. The collected leaves can be turned into compost for leaf mould or used on border plants.
According to the RHS, autumn is the “ideal time” to repair lawn damage. Hillary Thompson, horticulturist and director at Super-Sod, told Homes & Gardens: “Leaves trap moisture, acting like a mulch over the lawn. Even though leaf mulch benefits planting beds, it doesn't work for lawns because trapped moisture can cause diseases to thrive.”
