Fall Leaf Tips to Keep Our Waterways Clean Whether we decide to keep our autumn leaves for beneficial use or decide to get rid of them, it's important to remember to do our part in preventing them from ending up in our local waterways MOW This is the easiest solution as it involves no raking whatsoever. Fall leaves are full of nutrients. Run the mower over them. Leave them. The shredded leaves will disperse enough to let the grass breathe. The pieces will decompose over the winter supplying the soil with nutrients. COMPOST Autumn leaves are great "brown" or carbon ingredients for a compost pile. Leaves will decompose even faster if they are shredded. A lawnmower will do the trick. Alternate layers of shred- ded leaves with "green" materials in your compost pile. MAKE LEAF MOLD Leaf Mold is what remains when leaves are left to decompose on their own. It doesn't add a lot of nutrients, but it does improve the structure of the soil, and it improves its ability to hold water. MULCH Running over the leaves with a mower will shred them. After they are shred- ded, they can be used as mulch in flower beds, gardens, under trees and shrubs. Shredded leaves suppress weed growth and will eventually decompose and add nutrients back into the soil. This message is brought to you by... INSULATE AROUND TENDER PLANTS Build a cage around the plant and add leaves to protect over the winter months. If you are using the city's yard wastepick-up, here are twotipsto help protect our waterways: 1. Collect the leaves as close to collec- tion day as possible. 2. Keep the leaves as far away from storm drains as possible. Storm drains are a direct route to our streams and rivers. Angola's Clean Water Utilities (260) 665-2514 www.angolain.org Fall Leaf Tips to Keep Our Waterways Clean Whether we decide to keep our autumn leaves for beneficial use or decide to get rid of them , it's important to remember to do our part in preventing them from ending up in our local waterways MOW This is the easiest solution as it involves no raking whatsoever . Fall leaves are full of nutrients . Run the mower over them . Leave them . The shredded leaves will disperse enough to let the grass breathe . The pieces will decompose over the winter supplying the soil with nutrients . COMPOST Autumn leaves are great " brown " or carbon ingredients for a compost pile . Leaves will decompose even faster if they are shredded . A lawnmower will do the trick . Alternate layers of shred ded leaves with " green " materials in your compost pile . MAKE LEAF MOLD Leaf Mold is what remains when leaves are left to decompose on their own . It doesn't add a lot of nutrients , but it does improve the structure of the soil , and it improves its ability to hold water . MULCH Running over the leaves with a mower will shred them . After they are shred ded , they can be used as mulch in flower beds , gardens , under trees and shrubs . Shredded leaves suppress weed growth and will eventually decompose and add nutrients back into the soil . This message is brought to you by ... INSULATE AROUND TENDER PLANTS Build a cage around the plant and add leaves to protect over the winter months . If you are using the city's yard wastepick - up , here are twotipsto help protect our waterways : 1. Collect the leaves as close to collec tion day as possible . 2. Keep the leaves as far away from storm drains as possible . Storm drains are a direct route to our streams and rivers . Angola's Clean Water Utilities ( 260 ) 665-2514 www.angolain.org