Autumn - a time of crisp air alternating with warm sunshine, and trees emblazoned with the brilliance of red and gold. But what to do when the colours come off the trees onto the lawns and footpaths?
Definite no-nos are burning, blowing them into the gutter, or putting them in the garbage bin.
The simplest way would have to be raking the leaves under the nearest trees and bushes and leaving them there to rot. Or running the lawnmower over them (only advisable if there are not too many and they are already dry).
The most fun could be piling them into the wheelbarrow or a box and letting the kids trample them down. The shredded remains could then be strewn directly onto the garden as mulch.
The more complex and intellectually taxing method would have to be throwing them on the compost heap, as the serious leaf mould mulchers amongst us will be quick to warn of the science of balancing the carbon-nitrogen ratio necessary for healthy compost. Since the amount of leaves (high in carbon) must be balanced by nitrogen-rich items, such as grass clippings, food scraps and manure at a ratio of 30:1, this exact science demands more than just a nonchalant tossing of leaves on a heap!
Alternatively, you could pile them into Hessian bags with some Dynamic Lifter and grass clippings until next summer.
Whatever you do with Nature's golden bounty, don't let it just be a chore!