Many homeowners dread raking leaves. Well, hopefully this column will change your negative attitude towards the chore of raking and disposing of leaves into a positive one that your garden will benefit from.
Previous columns have described the virtues of fertilizing with organic matter. Leaves happen to be one of the most plentiful and nutrient-rich forms of organic matter that can be readily made into compost.
Leaves also can be used as mulch on plants for winter protection.