Fall temperatures have arrived and leaves are falling right on cue. It is a beautiful time of year on campus and at home, but the changing of the seasons also means a change to household chores. Rakes, and eventually shovels, are waiting in the garage, but that doesn’t mean you should put away the lawn mower just yet. 

 Andy Dahl, an urban forestry supervisor and campus arborist in the University of Iowa’s Office of Sustainability and the Environment, explains that there is more than one way to clear your lawn of fallen leaves.

Traditional curbside pickup is an option, but using those leaves to feed your soil and care for your gardens can improve your lawn’s health — and maybe save your back.