3 Great Ways To Use Ohio's Fall Leaves In Your Home Design

Whether it’s gazing at their changing colors or jumping into big piles, fall leaves are one of the best parts of the season. But don’t go tossing them out too quickly, as they can have new life in your yard and home.

“It’s like throwing away free materials to improve your landscape,” says Carin Miller, education specialist at the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District. Here are three fun and useful ways to use leaves to your advantage.

Leave It
Yes, you can take a break from raking. In addition to providing habitat for overwintering bees, butterflies and other insects — which also act as food for birds — fallen leaves can help add nutrients back into the soil.

“You’re providing a lot of support for wildlife by leaving them behind,” says Miller. “They also help insulate your plants over the winter so it’s free mulch.” Simply mow the leaves left on your lawn or shred those with a weed wacker for mulch stored in a plastic garbage can.

New Cycle
Leaves are perfect to use for the essential two-parts brown, one-part green formula needed for composting. “The most common brown materials we have are leaves,” says Miller. If you have plenty left over, stock them in a separate bin so you have access to leaves year-round to keep that ratio even.

Known as “lasagna gardening,” start with a thick layer of newspaper or cardboard and then alternate layers of leaves with green materials (grass, vegetable waste, etc.) to create that evenly balanced pile.

Get Crafty
After frolicking in those giant leaf piles, set some aside for crafting. From collages to wreaths, they’re the most natural fall decor you can find. Leaves can even be preserved by placing them between two sheets of wax paper, putting another piece of paper over that and using a warm iron to melt the wax paper together.

“It’s also fun to do leaf prints,” says Miller. “Put a little bit of paint on the back of the leaf and press it on paper.”