Leaves in your yard, "Leaf” them be: Eco-friendly ways to repurpose leaves

CASS COUNTY, Mich.--Michiana has officially reached peak fall color, after a bit of a delay this month. Just like clockwork, the winds have picked up and have begun to knock those vibrant leaves off the trees. Though it can be a bit bothersome, consider reusing leaves instead of getting rid of them.

Cliff Yehle, member of Micihiana Master Gardeners, offers other alternatives to burning leaves for disposal. He suggests using your leaves for composting.

Composting is one of the most effective and eco-friendly ways to reuse fallen leaves. Yehle explains that compost needs four main ingredients: green materials like lawn clippings or vegetable scraps, shredded browns such as brown leaves or newspaper, plus water and air. A bit of dirt also helps get things started.

Kitchen scraps can also be used in compost. Avoid using meat or fat in your compost. “You can collect [vegetable materials] and just sprinkle them over the top,” Yehle explains. “Coffee grounds are good. Egg shells are calcium. They're good for your tomato plants.”

Yehle instructs to turn over the mixture every few weeks to maintain moisture and aeration. After a few months, the compost should become a rich, dark brown mixture, ready to nourish your garden.

Another option would be bagging the leaves for city pickup. The city will send leaves to a local compost plant. Residents can also mow the leaves into the grass, allowing the leaves to make their way into the soil. It’s best practice to keep leaves away from drains to prevent clogs and flooding.

Composting isn’t only a fun fall project; it’s a gift your plants will appreciate all winter long.