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6 Ways to Properly Dispose of Leaves This Fall

leaves, leaf, fall, autumn, divito dream makers, denver dream making, making dreams come true, dispose, proper, good neighbor, rake, raking, denver, colorado, arvada, real estate, real estate team, realtor, house, home, homeownerAutumn makes a strong case for being the most beautiful time of year. But when temperatures start dropping, so do red, orange, and gold leaves—all over your property. Don’t “fall” behind in taking care of the leaves in your yard. As a homeowner, you have 6 options when it comes to leaf removal.

1. Mow and mulch them

Not feeling the rake? Power up your John Deere and mow over the leaves, cutting them up. You’re turning the leaves into mulch, which is good for insulating and fertilizing your lawn, shrubs, trees, flowers and vegetable beds.

Make sure the mulched leaves are evenly distributed. Avoid leaving a layer of unprocessed leaves on your lawn over the winter, since it will block out the sun and air from getting to your lawn and harm the grass, which may require reseeding in the spring.

2. Compost them

If you have a designated compost pile, then dead leaves are a great addition to the mix. They’ll decompose faster if you shred them first.

3. Bag them

You can get back to basics and get out the rake, put those gloves on, and collect the leaves into bags. Check your city or county website to find out whether it provides curbside pickup of bagged or piled leaves.

4. Blast them with a blower

A leaf blower is recommended for managing and redistributing fallen leaves in larger yards with more trees. Avoid blowing leaves into the street—leaves left to decay in the street will release phosphorous, which can clog storm drains and waterways.

5. Use a tarp for cleanup

A tarp can be used to transport dead leaves away from your lawn after you rake.

6. Burn them

Burning leaves should be a last resort, since it is potentially dangerous and can pollute the air. Before burning leaves, check the fire code for your municipality. If your city allows burning leaves, then they should be burned in smaller piles in an open area, away from hanging branches or brush that could catch on fire. A hose should be kept nearby, and never burn leaves in dry or windy weather.

Article originally appeared on Realtor.com.