Overview

• Homeowners are reminded of their legal duty to remove leaves from sidewalks, driveways and entrances to prevent slip hazards, a responsibility that can be assigned to tenants by contract.
• Conservation groups advise keeping leaves on-site as leaf piles or in a compost heap rather than putting them in municipal bio-bins to retain nutrients in the garden.
• For faster, high-quality compost, mix roughly two-thirds leaves with one-third coarse material, keep the pile moist, dust layers with horn meal, turn after about two months and expect usable compost in three to four months.
• Shred leaves with a mower and mix with grass clippings for effective mulch, apply 10–15 centimeters on beds, and remove leaves from lawns and ponds to avoid rot and algae growth.
• Do not use diseased or pest-infested leaves or those collected along busy roads due to contamination risks, and note that walnut and oak decompose slowly compared with faster-rotting fruit tree leaves.