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As the gardening season comes to a close, you have probably considered what to do with the leaves accumulating in your yard. In addition to putting fall leaves to work by making compost, there are other methods of using leaves, such as insulating plants, improving soil and mulching.

As part of your home maintenance for the fall, coming up with useful applications for all the leaves accumulating around your yard is a great idea. Leaves contain rich nutrients that trees have pulled up from the soil. When you add leaves to your garden, they offer food for beneficial earthworms and microbes. They also help sandy soils retain moisture. Leaves create attractive mulch that you can use in a flower garden.

Leaves also offer a great source of carbon, balancing out the nitrogen in your compost pile. Leaves can insulate tender plants from the cold as well.

Fall Leaves: Rich in Nutrients

It’s important to shred leaves to reduce volume and increase surface area, making it easier for earthworms and microbes to access and water and air to flow through. After you have shredded your leaves, rake them and put them into bags for use the following spring. Leaves will develop leaf mold that makes for great mulch. Leaf mold contains a lot of calcium and magnesium.

With the remaining shredded leaves, put them to work immediately in the garden for perennials, garlic and roses first. Then pour leaves onto the emptied beds of your vegetable and cutting gardens, and add organic fertilizer and compost. This all mixes together to form a wonderful mix that your plants will love in the spring.

You can also add leaves to your compost pile to keep it from getting compacted and too soggy. You can also use shredded leaves to insulate tender plants from winter wind with a 6-inch blanket of leaves.

Don’t Forget to Install a Gutter Guard

You will also want to install gutter guard, if you haven’t already, to keep leaves from entering your gutters and clogging them. Leaf gutter guards also keep out twigs, seeds and other debris that gets in gutters. Gutter Helmet offers an innovative alternative to leaf guard gutters that is backed by a guarantee of high-quality craftsmanship and excellent customer service.

Visit www.gutterhelmet.com to learn more about leaf guards and to schedule an appointment for a no-obligation consultation.