Leaves are valuable. They make good compost which is useful for
gardening, vegetables, flower gardens or even on lawns if chopped up.
It's a shame that so many people waste so much time and energy raking
up leaves, bagging them, then sending to be hauled off, when they
could be piled up for compost. Or, here in the South we have a
landscape form called 'natural area'. You can also blow them into
natural areas with your lawnmower, leaf blower or just rake them.
If they are allowed to just pile up on grass, you'll likely damage the
grass. Of course if you want more natural area and less lawn, that's
not a bad idea either.

I have "free" road apples just down the road. Another neighbor told
me I could have all the maple leaves on his property that I wanted...
yes, he giggled when I asked for permission. I smoothered my flower
bed about 4-5 inches deep with these dried leaves. Then comes the
other neighbor with the ponies. She gave me 3 barrels of road apples;
which I dumped onto of the leaves. These are definitely "green" apples
but I figure with mulch and time, they should be ok.

This cost me nothing but time and a little sore muscles. The only thing
I want and should add is peat onto the top of it all. At any rate, it will
be
fun to see what happens this spring.

Donna
in WA