Every fall, homeowners rake up something useful, stuff it into bags, haul it away, and then head back to the garden center a few months later to buy products that do many of the same jobs. Fallen leaves aren’t simply yard debris; they’re a free source of organic material that can protect soil, suppress weeds, feed compost, and return nutrients to the landscape. Penn State estimates that leaves from one large shade tree can contain as much as $50 worth of plant food and humus. Instead of paying to dispose of them and then paying again for mulch, compost, and other garden products, consider using fall leaves in the garden. With a mower, rake, or simple pile in the corner of the yard, this year’s leaves could replace three things you routinely buy.
