Berlin – October 28, 2026 -- Leaving fallen leaves in your garden this autumn protects soil and roots, produces free humus and gives hedgehogs, insects and birds a place to overwinter, according to German environmental group BUND. Its garden expert Corinna Hölzel urges homeowners to put the leaf blower away.
A 2-to-10-centimeter leaf layer works as mulch
Leaves should come off the lawn, Hölzel says, but they belong on beds, under hedges and around tree bases. A layer of roughly two to ten centimeters guards against drying out and erosion, keeps soil temperature stable and suppresses weeds. It also feeds earthworms and microorganisms.
As the leaves rot, they release humus and nutrients that plants use to grow, so gardeners need to fertilize less. Before mulching, loosen the soil and clear weed roots, and leave out sown seeds and young seedlings. Perennials, shrubs and fruit trees benefit most.
A sturdy leaf pile gives hedgehogs a warm, dry winter shelter
Hedgehogs build winter nests from leaves, grass and scrub. BUND recommends a large, stable pile under a dense hedge or in a quiet corner, secured with brushwood, branches, stones or deadwood.
Do not turn over the compost heap between November and March, because hedgehogs and other small animals like to shelter in it. Gardens should also be passable for hedgehogs, with at least ten centimeters of clearance beneath fences or openings of at least ten by ten centimeters.
Frogs, toads, ladybirds and birds all rely on leaf litter
Leaves serve as both food and cover. Frogs and toads hide in leaf piles over winter, ladybirds hibernate there and birds forage among the leaves. Hölzel stresses that this matters most in cold weather.
For more biodiversity, stack branches and twigs into a brushwood pile, a beetle bunker or a Benjes hedge, then layer leaves on top. Any leaves left over can go on the compost, where they turn into humus that can be spread on beds in spring.