Call it autumn or call it the fall, both terms evoke the shedding of leaves en masse by deciduous trees, shrubs and perennials. Leaf litter is a wonderful thing, nature's soil improver. I sweep leaves off the grass, paths and patio but straight onto the beds or gather them in a wire mesh bin to make leafmould.
 Gardeners sometimes go to a lot of effort removing organic matter in the form of "garden waste" and a lot of effort adding organic matter in the form of compost. A mature garden can feed itself -just as nature does- in a self-sustaining cycle.