With autumn upon us, many people marvel at the color-changing leaves that decorate the ground. However, while many folks enjoy seeing them, they can become a curse if they are not disposed of or used properly. The good news is that there are many ways in which these leaves can be disposed of or re-purposed without causing any harm to the environment.

1. Use Them for Composting

This is one of the best and most economical uses for autumn leaves because they can be added to the compost pile to produce a fantastically organic fertilizer for flowers or fruits and vegetables. These leaves along with other garden waste, plant cuttings and kitchen scraps (excluding meat or ashes though) can be placed in a compost bin and allowed to simply rest for a few weeks. It is also important to keep the pile damp and turn it over every few weeks by using a garden fork.

2. Leave a Few Leaves on Your Lawn

Although many people enjoy the sight of a perfectly manicured lawn, it can actually be beneficial to your grass if a few leaves are left on it. This is because they can act as a natural fertilizer and save you from having to purchase fertilizer. Animals that are busy preparing for winter will often make use of some of these leaves to build their winter nests and insects that are beneficial in the garden often rely on leaves as a food source.

3. Use an Old-Fashioned Garden Rake

Over the past few years it has become normal for many people to use a leaf blower to clean up their lawn and gather leaves. Although this saves time, it is not an eco-friendly option because of the gas fumes that are emitted by these blowers. It is far better to use a garden rake to gather unwanted leaves into one place where they can either be bagged or composted for later use.

4. Ideal Insulation

Bags of leaves can be an ideal form of insulation for plants that are sensitive to the cold. They can even be placed around the foundation of a home to provide additional insulation during the winter months. Once they have been raked into bags, they can be used virtually anywhere that additional insulation and warmth is required. If you have a pet that sleeps outside, these bags can even be placed around their dog house to provide extra warmth.

5. Use Leaves as Free Mulch

Instead of purchasing bags of mulch from the local garden center, why not mulch your own garden’s leaves by raking them over garden beds and around tree bases? This is an ideal use for them as it saves you having to pay a trash collection fee for all of the bags of leaves that have been raked out of your garden. An added benefit to this is the fact that your mulch is 100% organic. By using eco-friendly methods to keep your lawn leaf-free, you will be saving money as well as doing your bit for the environment and the best news is that it will cost you nothing but a little time and effort.