fallen leaves on garden path leading to water fountain

Taming Autumn: Expert Tips for Managing Fallen Leaves in UK Gardens

We all stop and take a breath as we see the Autumn leaves and we do this for two reasons. The first: the colours are beautiful. The oranges, browns are anreds are a sight to behold and can be truly breathtaking.

The Second: they're a pain to clear up and if your tool kit is lacking they can be an absolute chore. 

We accept that leaves are part of the seasonal cycle and we are blessed in the UK to be able to observe the marked change of each season. Leaving too many leaves untidied however can lead to blocked drains and smothered lawns so it's best to get a tight strategy to keep the leaves in order. 

In this post we'll walk you through our top leaf management tips from our experience at John Miller Garden Machinery.

1. Plan your leaf management strategy

Leaving your leaf management to the last minute can work out to be a mammoth job it's best to tackle the leaves little and often rather than wait for the trees to completely clear. 

Consider if you have key zones you need to target e.g. areas where drains will be easily blocked etc. Also consider if you have key zones to keep clear - paths of fallen leaves for example can lead to slip hazards or you may have autumn bedding plants in borders that you want leaf free.

Much like you may do when mowing the lawn, create a basic schedule to remind yourself to give the leaves a clear regularly.

Top Tip 1 - plan in a late leaf pickup before any known frosts to avoid any drama later in the season.

Top Tip 2 - keep an eye on the weather, avoid water logged leaves after heavy rain, it'll be more work than it's worth!

2. Get the right kit

You dont have to break the bank to get the right kit. Choose from tried and tested hand tools or go for cordless garden machinery to make light work of what can be a heavy job. 

Hand tools - rakes and leaf-scoops

  • Go for a high quality leaf rake with a wide head to help you speed through your leaf clearance. Also choose leaf scoops / leaf grabbers to help pick up large volumes.

  • Hand tools are quiet, cheap and will give you control in tight spots around the garden.

Leaf blowers / vacuums

  • Leaf Blowers or blower vac combinations are an excellent choice if you want to speed up managing fallen leaves. They work well not only on lawns but are ideal for patios and driveways too. 

Top Tip - use variable speed where this is an option - start slow to gently blow leaves into manageable leaves increasing the speed as you become more confident with the terrain. This will help you avoid moving any unwanted debris with too much force! 

  • Some blowers can shred leaves as they collect, reducing compost volume so opt to mulch and vacuum your leaves for condensed leaf collection. 

Mulching or shredding

  • After collection, consider running leaves through a garden shredder or use a mulching lawn mower to mulch them.

  • Use your mulched leaf material as garden mulch or add it to your compost heap - this will help reduce your waste and enrich your soil in the long run.

Top Tip 2 - look after your kit, clean hand tools and service your garden machinery annual to keep them in the best condition. 

3. Managing the lawn care / leaf relationship

  • Remove leaves from the lawn regularly to prevent smothering.

  • Consider mowing over leaves with a collector or mulching lawn mower - depending on your mowers capabilities this should chop leaves finely and is a quick way to keep on top of your lawn maintenance.

  • In shaded or moss-prone lawns, be particularly prompt with leaf removal as these ares will already struggle with gaining daylight.

Conclusion 

A good leaf management routine combines a light schedule, the right tools and the necessary follow-through. Do this and you will be able to enjoy a healthy garden right through the season. 

For further tips and reviews have a read through our other blog posts. You can also visit our YouTube channel for the latest Garden Machinery reviews and demos.

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