Warning issued to anyone with acorns in garden

They are one of the telltale signs that autumn is finally arriving. It feels like just yesterday we were all enjoying another heatwave, but now acorns are falling all over our chilly, rain-soaked gardens and our houses are full of spiders.

Autumn's arrival brings with it a seemingly infinite number of acorns which fall on lawns, on patios and basically anywhere there's an oak tree nearby.

Given that oak trees are some of the most common species of tree in the UK, it's no wonder that so many gardens end up covered in acorns at this time of year.

The good news is that acorns are extremely beneficial to wildlife. According to BBC Gardeners' World, both the oak trees and their acorns sustain countless creatures, from the aphids and blue tits which feed on the oak trees, to the native British red squirrels, mice and badgers which feed on the dropped acorns.

It says: "Oak trees play a key role in supporting important ecosystems. Acorns provide food for mammals such as red squirrels, badgers and wood mice. Birds like jays and nuthatches also enjoy the autumn acorn feast. Over 1,000 invertebrate species have been recorded on oak trees. Caterpillars, spiders and other invertebrates in the canopy attract insectivorous birds such as wood warblers and blue tits.

"Aphids feeding on fresh leaf growth produce honeydew, the primary food of wood ants. Many moth species, such as the pale tussock and black arches, have caterpillars that feed on oak leaves. The purple hairstreak butterfly relies on sessile and English oak as its sole larval food plants, and the adults feed in the canopy on the honeydew produced by aphids."

However, depending on how your garden is set up, an endless amount of acorns is not always welcome.

In fact, according to garden experts, an excess of acorns can damage lawns due to blocking out grass' light. Not only that, but fallen acorns can turn into unwanted additional oak trees - which can be a real problem if they take root near the foundations of your house.

On top of that, the little round, often wet, acorns can create a slip hazard on patios, decking and pathways.

Gardening firm The Grounds Guys has warned gardeners about the potential dangers of fallen acorns getting out of control.

They warned: "Leaving fallen acorns in your yard can affect the health of your lawn. Tools like an acorn picker-upper can save you time and protect your yard from things like:

• Lawn damage: Acorns block sunlight and air from reaching grass, creating brown patches and thinning turf.

• Attracting pests: Rodents, insects, and wildlife may visit your yard to feast on the abundant food source.

• Safety hazards: Acorns create slipping risks on walkways and become dangerous projectiles when struck by lawn mowers.

• Unwanted seedlings: Sprouts may arise wherever acorns fall, competing with your established plants for nutrients and water."

The best course of action if you have areas like lawns and pathways where you need to remove acorns is to move them to an area where squirrels and other animals can still access them, or you can crush and add them to compost bins.

They added: "Acorns make excellent additions to your composting and gardening efforts when handled properly. Before adding acorns to your compost pile, crush or break them into smaller pieces to speed up decomposition, as whole acorns take significantly longer to break down. Mix crushed acorns with other compost materials like leaves, grass clippings, and kitchen scraps to create a nutrient-rich soil amendment.

"For garden applications, transform acorns into protective mulch by running them through a mulcher designed to handle nuts and seeds. This natural mulch helps retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and slowly releases nutrients back into the soil as it breaks down. If you've collected acorns using an acorn picker-upper tool, you can also strategically place them in wildlife-friendly areas of your yard as food sources for birds, squirrels, and other local fauna."