If you're looking at the carpet of fallen leaves covering your lawn and reaching for the rake, you might want to hold off. What looks like a mess is actually one of the most valuable free resources your garden can get. Ecology experts at Arbtech say that autumn leaves offer multiple benefits that can save you money and improve your yard's health.

Instead of spending hours bagging leaves or firing up the leaf blower, there are smarter ways to put those leaves to work. From natural mulch to free fertilizer, here are eight practical ways to turn fallen leaves from garden waste into something genuinely useful.

1. Shred and use as natural mulch

Fallen leaves make excellent natural mulch for garden beds, and it won't cost you a penny. Simply shred the leaves with a lawn mower or leaf shredder

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