Turning Over a New Leaf

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The leaves are letting go in earnest, and while it’s tempting to blow them all into a neat pile—which we do recommend for a good jump—the Michigan Department of Resources and other environmental organizations across the North recommend different solutions to fall leaf cover. The simplest: Leave the leaves where they lie, as they provide an important winter ecosystem for insects, reptiles, and small mammals. (If you’re worried about your grass, run the lawn mower once more to get a finer cover.) When you really need to bust out that rake or blower—like to keep roads and storm drains clear—deposit leaves into your garden or landscaping beds for free, nutrient-rich mulch. When you can, avoid bagging leaves and sending them to the landfill—that practice accounts for millions of tons of “trash” that could serve a better purpose elsewhere. Instead, contact an organization like Bay Area Recycling for Charities for a leaf pickup; they use the leaves for compost.

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