There’s a special kind of satisfaction that comes after a good weeding or pruning session. Raised beds are neat, foliage is no longer attacking your visitors as they head down your front path, and you feel that small sense of achievement. That is, until you turn around and face the sprawling mass of clippings, weeds, and branches you've created.
So what to do with it? Maybe your first urge is to stuff it all into bin bags, set it alight or just pile it behind the shed and forget about it. But before you do, consider that this green aftermath might not be a problem at all. In fact, most of it has the potential to nourish your garden and wildlife, saving you money in the process.
We've asked some of our favourite garden experts for their tips on how to use garden waste for good, while saving it from landfill. And if you really don't have a use for it, we'll explain the rules when it comes to disposing of tree offcuts, dead plants, horsetail weeds and the like, to save you any trouble.
1. Add it to a compost heap
“Composting is about turning everyday garden and kitchen waste into “black gold”, rich crumbly organic matter that feeds the soil and improves plant health. We rely on it to open up heavy soils, improve drainage and reduce waste," says Josie Lewis, head gardener at Sarah Raven's Perch Hill Farm.
"By composting at home, gardeners can reduce waste, improve their soil and create a natural, peat-free soil improver that’s kinder to the environment," agrees Philip Newton, garden care and maintenance buyer at Hillier Garden Centres. "Using your own compost also reduces the need for buying bagged compost, particularly peat-based products.”
Philip is an experienced horticultural buyer with a proven track record in shaping and elevating garden product ranges. At Hillier, he leads the selection and negotiation of key garden categories, combining deep sector knowledge with a strong commercial focus.
Beginning his career in the garden centre industry over 35 years ago, Philip progressed through leadership roles at some of the UK’s leading garden centres before moving into online retailing with established heritage brands.
A true plantsman at heart, Philip brings an authentic passion for horticulture to every decision he makes. He champions sustainability, quality, and responsible sourcing while ensuring a strong commercial return. His blend of expertise, creativity, and strategic thinking continues to support Hillier’s reputation for horticultural excellence.
So what garden waste can you add to your compost heap?
“Most soft garden waste is perfect for composting, including grass clippings, fallen leaves, spent plants and prunings," says Philip. "Vegetable peelings, fruit scraps, coffee grounds and crushed eggshells can also be added from the kitchen."
“For the best results, it’s important to balance green materials, such as fresh grass clippings with brown materials like dry leaves, cardboard woody stems. This helps keep the compost healthy and breaking down evenly.”
To compost successfully, choose a well-drained spot for your compost bin or heap, ideally in partial shade. Add materials in layers, mix greens and browns together and turn the heap occasionally to introduce air and speed things along. "Regular turning keeps oxygen flowing and speeds the process dramatically," says Josie.
“You’ll know when your compost is ready when it’s dark, crumbly and smells pleasantly earthy," says Philip. "It can then be used as a peat-free soil conditioner or mulch, helping to improve soil naturally across the garden.”
"Avoid adding cooked food, meat, dairy products or diseased plants, as these can attract pests and spread problems," says Philip at Hillier. "Thick woody material should be shredded first or reused elsewhere in the garden."
"Smelly compost is a sign it’s gone anaerobic, usually from too much green waste and not enough air, and shouldn't be used,” adds Josie.
2. Use waste as mulch
"Mulching is the process of covering soil with a layer of organic or inorganic material to improve soil health, retain moisture, suppress weeds and regulate temperature," explains Peter Chaloner, managing director at Cobra Garden Machinery. "In lawn care specifically, mulching refers to finely cutting grass clippings and returning them to the lawn, providing a natural fertiliser effect.
"We recommend it as an eco-friendly way to nourish your lawn, as it recycles valuable nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium back into the soil, reducing the need for synthetic fertilisers," he says. "It also promotes healthy microbial activity and improves soil structure, resulting in a lusher, greener lawn."
Peter is the managing director of Cobra, one of the UK's leading brands of garden machinery, and Henton & Chattell, one of the largest garden machinery distributors in the country. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Peter has played a vital role in the success of Cobra Garden Machinery, which was launched in 2013. Under Peter's guidance, Cobra has become a trusted name in the UK's garden machinery and horticultural industry.
Peter is a passionate enthusiast when it comes to lawn care and seasonal gardening tasks. He takes great pride in maintaining his own lawn and garden to perfection and is knowledgeable about various techniques and tools that can be used to achieve the best results.
Shop mulching mowers
This great-value mower by Cobra has won a best buy award from our sister brand T3 and is powered with a 40V battery. It has 5 cut heights ranging from 25mm up to 75mm, and importantly it has a mulch mode that returns finely cut grass clippings back into your lawn.
"Mulching is one of those really simple tasks that provides a whole host of benefits to your garden, all for a small amount of time, effort and money," agrees landscape architect Victoria Wade. "Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, mulching helps to reduce water loss from the soil, so is especially good for freer draining soils, or to use in the Spring time before the warmer months."
"If you’re using a biodegradable mulch, which we’d recommend, it improves the soil’s fertility as the mulch breaks down even more and adds nutrients into the soil. It also encourages more soil creatures, like worms, who are drawn to the additional nutrients, and will drag it through the soil, helping to spread the nutrients around as well as improve the structure of the soil by aerating it with their tiny tunnels," she says.
"It can also help to suppress weed growth, though we do find that plenty of weed seeds are quite happy rooting themselves in the mulch itself, so this isn’t (sadly) a fool proof way of reducing the need to ever weed again," Victoria continues. " If applied in the autumn, the extra layer helps to prevent some of the worst damages of frost and cold temperatures for the plant roots, acting a bit like a blanket over the top layer of soil and keeping it a little warmer."
"And, finally, most mulches look nice too – leaving the beds looking smarter than if they just have exposed patches of bare earth."
With an MA in Landscape Architecture, Victoria and her husband Joe established Victoria Wade Landscape Architecture in 2013. The thriving Landscape Institute registered practice in Swansea in South Wales has won multiple RHS Gold Medals for its landscape architecture and garden design.
The couple also runs a sustainable plant nursery based in Gower in 2022, to supply the plants for their local projects and improve the efficiency and environmental impact of their supply chain.
Social and environmental sustainability and responsibility lies at the heart of their approach and as such they are a BCorp Certified organisation with a commitment to active contribution to the 1% For The Planet initiative.
3. Make a leaf mould
For a healthy lawn come spring, clearing the leaves from your grass should be part of any autumn lawn care routine. "It will help prevent fungal diseases, and also to stop the lawn suffocating beneath them," says Paul Hicks, product and marketing manager at Stihl GB. "Depending on the size of your lawn, you can simply use a rake to gather the fallen leaves, or for larger areas, a leaf blower will make quick work of the job."
"Once you’ve gathered your leaves don’t just throw them away;" Paul adds. "Leaf mould is easy to create and is an excellent soil conditioner. Add your shredded leaves to leaf bags (or you can put them in a big bag with air holes in the sides), add some water, and store in an area of your garden which is open to the elements. After around a year, they will have broken down and can be used as a nutrient rich mulch to improve your garden’s health."
Paul recommends using a leaf blower/vacuum combo. "In blower mode, it makes it simple to collect leaves from tricker spots, such as around tree roots, or flower beds – and in vacuum mode, it can collect them in the attached bag for you, ready to be turned into mould.”
Three of the best leaf blowers
You'll need to purchase the AK 20 battery separately, but this 2-in-1 blower is the ultimate in convenience. That's because it can convert easily from powerful leaf blower to vacuum shredder without the need for tools. The metal blade on the fan wheel will cut up leaves and twigs as they are sucked up, so you'll get more into the good-sized 40-litre bag provided. There's also a variable speed trigger to control suction and blowing force, and padded adjustable shoulder strap for extra support.
If you're looking for an affordable leaf blower, you could do a lot worse than this Bosch starter model. It's far from fancy, with just two settings and a modest 22 minute battery life at best, but it's ideal for smaller gardens and isn't too bulky to store. It takes a single 18V battery (not included) that’s compatible with the Power For All Alliance system, which is also used by Flymo, Gardena and Husqvarna. And the handy included attachments mean it can also blow up paddling pools and inflatable dinghies and kayaks.
This is another great-value blower that's super lightweight and incredibly easy to use. You get a lot of power for the money, and the brushless motor promises to be both quiet and long-lasting. You can adjust the power between on, off and boost just by pressing the button under your thumb.
"Adding leaf mould also encourages more soil creatures, like worms, who are drawn to the additional nutrients, and will drag it through the soil, helping to spread the nutrients around as well as improve the structure of the soil by aerating it with their tiny tunnels," says Victoria Wade. "Just be aware that different leaves break down at different speeds, and especially thick leaves could be shredded before being added, to help speed up their decomposition."
Top tip: "The only problem with leaf mould is that it can quite easily get filled with weed seeds," says Victoria. "The longer you leave it for, the greater the chance of the seeds dying off."
4. Set up a no-dig garden
The no-dig garden principle of working with the soil, not against it has become hugely popular in recent years among first-time gardeners and established experts alike. “No-dig gardening avoids disturbing the soil structure and the complex life within it. Instead of digging, fertility is built from the top using organic matter," explains Josie Lewis.
“This approach reduces weed seed germination, protects soil organisms, and produces stronger, healthier plants. The organic matter also holds onto moisture and so reduces the need to water. It’s also far less labour-intensive. Simply spread organic matter compost on the surface and plant directly into it. Earthworms then do the digging for you.”
Marco Maxia joined London-based Terra Firma Landscaping as Japanese Knotweed Expert in 2022 and specialises in invasive plant management and soft landscaping. He leads site assessments, develops treatment strategies, and implements sustainable landscaping solutions, providing technical expertise across the business.
So how do you incorporate garden waste into the no-dig technique?
"The most common is the 'cardboard method', where you place wetted plain cardboard (no tape, glossy print, or plastic) over mow or flattened vegetation," explains Marco Maxia, Head of Horticulture at Terra Firma Landscapes.
"You then add 5–10 cm (2–4 in) of compost and an optional mulch layer on top, made from existing garden waste."
"You could also simply stop digging your existing beds, adding homemade compost on top once or twice a year in early spring and late autumn," he says. "Mulch generously with leaf mould and thin layers of grass clippings to suppress weeds, feed soil life and retain moisture."
Top tip: Always resist the urge to dig. "Even occasional digging disrupts soil life and breaks fungal networks," says Marco. "And don't introduce any plastic barriers to the soil as this will prevent water and root movement. Cardboard breaks down naturally—plastic doesn’t."
5. Create a wildlife habitat
Some larger pieces of garden waste might not be quite right for your compost heap, but they do have another use.
"Piles of logs or offcut branches are great places for animals to make a home and they can look really attractive in a garden, too," says Victoria Wade. "You can simply stack up a pile of old logs, sited somewhere shady, and leave them to decay. It will soon become a home to many insects and bugs, which in turn will attract birds, frogs and maybe even hedgehogs."
Just remember that many of these creatures will need a safe entry and exit route. "Leaving a small gap under your fence will create a wildlife corridor, allowing hedgehogs, frogs and even newts to wander from garden to garden," Victoria suggests.
If you love this idea and would like something on a bigger scale, you could go a step further and consider building a dead hedge – a sort of home-made fence – with your offcuts.
And logs aren't the only garden waste you can use to make a safe place for animals. "Leaves can be used for overwintering insects, hedgehogs and frogs," says Marco Maxia at Terra Firma Landscapes. "You can simply rake them into quiet corners, pile them under shrubs or trees or place them on flower beds as winter cover. Just be careful not to smother lawns excessively."
"Dead stems and plant stalks can also be a haven for solitary bees and overwintering insects," Marco adds. "Rather than cut everything back in autumn, leave stems standing over winter, bundling hollow stems together."
Marco also recommends leaving seed heads and spent flowers be over winter so that birds and insects can feed on them. "But whatever habitat you're making, never use pesticides or herbicides nearby, don't disturb piles frequently, and never place habitats in very exposed, dry locations," he warns.
6. Sign up for green waste collection
If you have large quantities of garden waste or perhaps not enough space to create your own compost heap, you may need a more nuclear option for removing your garden waste. That's where your local council comes into play.
Most councils now offer dedicated services for collecting garden waste. While it my not be quite as eco-friendly as using those cuttings and leaves in your own garden due to the carbon footprint created by the trucks collecting the waste, and the bins created to store it, your garden detritus will still be used in positive ways. For example, London Recycles works in collaboration with local London borough councils to ensure that garden waste is turned into compost.
Typically, you'll have to pay a fee for this service. This writer's local council, Central Bedfordshire, charges £56.10 per bin for a fortnightly collection. Subscriptions run from the beginning of April to the end of March, with a break from December to February when gardens are typically dormant.
Somerset Council offers a fortnightly wheeled bin collection subscription for £73.50. You can also arrange for bags of garden waste to be collected for a fee.
There will be restrictions on what you can put in your garden waste bin. A typical list might be:
- Flowers and plants
- Grass cuttings
- Hedge trimmings
- Leaves
- Small branches (less than 15cm or 6 inches wide) and bark
- Straw or sawdust
You may be able to add bedding material from pet cages, but usually only in small quantities and only if you have household vegetarian pets, such as rabbits and hamsters. Bird bedding won't be allowed.
Things that won't count as garden waste include plastics (including plant pots and soil packaging); metal, glass, stone, rubble, ceramics or clay flower pots; food and animal waste; treated wood and invasive plants like Japanese knotweed.
The one thing NOT to do...
Why you shouldn't burn garden waste
One tempting way to dispose of garden waste – particularly dead wood or broken fence panels – is to burn them in a garden bonfire. But how to do this safely? We contacted fire brigades across the country for their advice on the disposal of garden waste by burning, and their advice was an almost universal 'don't'.
"Our general advice is to avoid burning garden waste," says Kimberly Colclough, fire prevention officer, West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service. "These types of fires can easily get out of control and spread to fences, sheds, and properties – causing significant damage and risk to life. We encourage people use bulky/garden waste collections or recycling services instead."
Another issue of burning even untreated wood is that it releases harmful particles, especially fine particulate matter known as PM2.5, so it really is best avoided.
Kim is prevention assurance and improvement team policy coordinator at West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (WTFRS).
The WYFRS is one of six metropolitan brigades in England and one of the busiest in the country, covering the districts of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield. Kim's team is responsible for working with communities and young people to drive down accidents and injuries. Last year, firefighters and specialist staff carried out 309,719 home fire safety checks.
Kimberly also advises to remove combustible items, such as damaged fencing and cardboard, from outdoor areas promptly. "Store them safely or dispose of them via your local authority," she says.
And while you may be within your legal rights to burn garden waste on private land, that's not always the case. "Check local council guidance – garden bonfires may be restricted or subject to nuisance rules," she says. "And if you're renting, review your tenancy agreement. Many landlords prohibit burning garden waste on rented properties."
To conclude, there's plenty you can do with garden waste as you clear a garden for winter. But if you're clearing your garden, make sure you don't harm hedgehogs and other wildlife. We also have plenty of ways to make your garden more eco-friendly.
To cut down on waste going forward, look to our low-maintenance garden ideas and easy-to-care-for gravel garden.
