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To leave or not to leave
crazyshrink
Posts: 4
There seems to be much dispute amongst the professionals about whether to leave fallen leaves on borders and lawns. I have just had several conifers and a bay laurel clipped and am hoping that the fallen leaves will help suppress weeds. What do people think?
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No professional here, but I collect leaves, I think they look messy especially when they get wet, encourage slugs and snails underneath. Point in fact, Hubby cut brambles (neighbours sore point!) and some branches not wanted, left them in the middle of the lawn they didnt get sorted for health reasons, (both of us) desided to cut them up today and put in garden waste bin, the were a devil to cut up wet,there were lots of slugs and snails underneath.
I'd lift them too. Deciduous leaves from trees are less of a problem, providing they aren't too thick, and you don't have something underneath that could rot if the crown is covered.
Conifer foliage is a different matter entirely - I definitely wouldn't leave them as they take forever to break down. If it's only some needles, that's less of an issue. Bay is also tough and will take ages. It's more likely that, if they've dried out, leaves will blow around everywhere if it's windy.
Better to remove and use something more suitable for a mulch
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I whole heartedly agree I would seriously remove the leaves from your borders as they do harbour
pests. Last year after a lot of persuasion I invested in a leaf collector and blower and for the
first time in years the job became instantly easier. If you go down this road I do not think you
would regret it.
pests to some are wildlife to others
I leave deciduous leaves on planted areas, it encourages worms and all the mini-beasts that help maintain good soil structure.
But if Bay Laurel is Prunus laurocerasus, that has the ugliest leaves when they dry off and they go through the shredder.
Bay and Laurel are 2 different plants.
Make sure you eat the right one
In the sticks near Peterborough
Bay takes years to rot down.
I purposely use a powerful leaf-blower to literally fill the borders with oak , sycamore , birch and beech leaves !
As they get wetter and wetter during the winter months , they form a thick carpet of organic matter which is good for earthworms and works as an effective weed suppressant in the spring .
My policy is to return to the garden as much as what is taken out by your trees .
PS:- Laurel leaves are collected and burnt , alongside Quercus ilex (evergreen-oak) leaves ; horrible things !!
This is a great response - thank you all.
I certainly have enough snails in my garden Nanny Beach. It is definitely Bay from the lovely aroma Nutcutlet, but I'll confirm when I have made my stew. ;-)
I have comfrey aplenty too, so will use that as a mulch.
Don't leave a thick layer on grass lawns. The lawn will die off under it.