An increased efficiency, more durable pool leafing tool, and method, for gathering leaves and other pool debris from a pool bottom wall has a handle, a handle-controlled basket of a water-pervious and leaf and debris-impervious plastic mesh pocket having a closed end and an open end and a leaf and debris receiving volume therebetween formed by longitudinally extended sidewalls. The sidewalls provide an open end edge margin that is attached to a supporting frame. A pocket stay structure has one or more spring elements bent on themselves about the pocket closed end. The stay structure extends attached to the sidewalls for substantially the sidewall longitudinal extent length for biasing the mesh pocket volume against collapse onto itself in its empty or leaf and debris-filled condition to facilitate both gathering and disposal of leaves and debris from swimming pools.