If you have a garden then at this time of year you most likely
have leaves littering your lawn, flower beds and any place else
they might have fluttered on their way down from the branches.
Leaves that fall into flower beds can be left there as a winter
mulch (any that remain in the spring should be removed again)
but take care to remove any that fall atop bushes, hedges and
lawns. They should also be removed from paths as they can become
slippery and present a hazard. When collecting leaves, avoid
taking leaves from the drifts under hedgerows or secluded
corners as they may be used as nesting areas for wildlife. Use
only brown, fallen leaves and avoid evergreen leaves. Fallen
leaves can be gathered up and placed in a plastic bag (punched
with holes) or a mesh leaf mould making bag. Once they are
bagged up, place them in a dark corner and let nature do its
work. If the leaves are wet the moisture will help them to rot,
if they are very dry give them a little water. Then, forget
about them for a year or two. L