1. Collect different shapes and colors. Consult books or the Internet to figure out what kinds they are.
2. Paste to paper for artwork. (Other decor ideas.)
3. Press leaves into hypertufa stepping stones.
4. Make leaf mold or compost. (Instructions: Make heap. Wait.) To shred leaves, use a vacuum shredder or run over leaves on the lawn with a power mower.
5. Swipe other people's leaves for compost or leaf mulch. (If they have raked them to the curb or discarded them in leaf bags, that is. No trespassing.)
6. In late fall, rake leaves onto perennial beds for mulch. Or rake leaves under shrubbery.
7. Make a pile and jump in.
Chicago Tribune file photo by George Thompson.
This post is part of The Chicago Gardener, a blog of the Chicago Tribune. See more gardening coverage here.
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