To leave or not to leave, that is the question.

It’s the time of year when gardeners must decide how they are going to manage their piles of leaves. I have observed two distinct groups over the years. One is the fastidious camp that constantly collects and removes leaves as fast as they fall. The other is the al natural camp, which prefers the more passive approach of letting the leaves fall where they may, just like Mother Nature does.

But before you decide which camp you want to be in, let’s talk about the importance of leaves in the garden.

Leaves are a huge resource for the garden. They are rich in nutrients, act as a blanket of insulation, block winter weeds and provide a hiding place for worms and bugs, which in turn provide winter food for birds.

Fallen leaves are a vital link in the cycle of nature. Over time, they build soils, prevent compaction from driving rains and minimize erosion on sloped ground.

Nobody in their right mind would think of removing leaves from the forest floor, yet we do it all the time in our gardens.

If you are of the “rake-em-up” camp, you need to remember that by removing your leaves you are depriving your soil of this replenishing opportunity, and therefore it is your responsibility to find some other way to replenish it yourself. You are going to have to bring in some compost and spread it on your beds once you have finished raking all the leaves.

If, on the other hand, you are of the “let-em-lie” camp, you will at least need to “organize” your leaves so they are not smothering your lawn or evergreen shrubs and perennials — plants that retain their leaves all winter long that need to breathe to function and see the light of day once in a while. Your leaves can be several inches deep, as long as they are not covering any foliage.

In my garden, I herd most of my leaves into some of my garden beds for the winter. The leaves stay there until mid-February, when I rake up what is left and put it in a compost pile. Removing the leaves at that time opens the soil to the air (and hopefully some sunshine), and helps to wake up the beds. By late April, after my plants have started to grow, I apply some organic fertilizer along with a new layer of compost and I am good for the season.

I have other beds where I do like to remove all the leaves because I want to plant bulbs and pansies, and the leaves just get in the way. In these beds, I will apply an organic fertilizer at the time of planting and, if needed, some additional compost to fluff up the soil and act as a mulch for the winter. These amendments take the place of the removed leaves and help keep my soils healthy.

Overall, we need to remember that leaves are a rich source of nutrients for our gardens and are an asset, not a liability. If you can’t stand the littered look, then at least top dress your beds with a layer of finished compost for the winter. If you prefer the natural look and are inclined to leave the leaves, then remove them from the lawn and any evergreen plants. You can decide in spring if you want to tidy up any more or just let nature take its course.

Steve Smith is the owner of Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville and can be reached at info@sunnysidenursery.net.