As the summer gives way to fall, our thoughts turn to cooler days and fall colors. But the colors will eventually fade and then the leaves will fall. And there can be a lot of leaves.

A mature deciduous tree can have tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of leaves on its branches.

For example, a mature oak tree can have as many as 200,000 leaves. And most homes have more than one tree. So, there could be up to a million leaves falling to the ground in a yard.

Once all these leaves are down, what do you do with them?

For some people, the answer is to rake and then bag them or burn them (if burning is allowed in the location). But this removes all the benefits fall leaves can provide from your yard.

Fall leaves contain nutrients needed in your soil. The University of Illinois points out that nature spent eons to develop soil and a process to recycle the nutrients in it.

In the spring and summer, trees and other plants take nutrients from the soil to grow and make leaves. In the fall the leaves fall to the ground, decompose and return the nutrients to the soil. Removing the leaves takes these nutrients away.

What can you do with the fall leaves that also keep their nutrients in your yard? There are environmentally friendly ways that have no cost to homeowners.

Use a lawn mower to chop the leaves up and recycle them directly into the lawn. A lawn mower with a mulching blade works great, a regular lawnmower blade will also get the job done.

Depending on the type and amount of leaves several passes with the mower may be necessary. Chopped leaves won’t block water, air and light getting to the soil and grass like whole leaves can, and they will quickly decompose. The leaves won’t cause thatch in your lawn.

Use the leaves as a winter mulch to protect perennials, especially evergreens, through the winter.

Collect the leaves with a mower and bagger. Apply a 3- to 6-inch layer of leaves around deciduous perennials after the first freeze to prevent frost heave from damaging the roots and crown of the plant.

For evergreens, spread the same amount of leaf mulch around them before the ground freezes to help prevent winter burn. It’s a good idea to keep the ground around evergreens watered until the first freeze.

If you have a protected spot where the leaves won’t blow away, North Carolina State says you can use whole leaves as mulch. The whole leaves will also provide a winter habitat for small wildlife and invertebrates.

Compost is a great soil conditioner. Leaves are rich in carbon, an essential component of compost. Start by putting leaves into a compost bin, or any container that holds the leaves and allows air and water in.

The leaves can either be whole or chopped, but chopped leaves will decompose faster. Adding some nitrogen either by putting in green plant material or fertilizer will speed up the composting process.

Weather permitting, turn the pile every one to two weeks so the outside is exchanged with the materials in the center of the pile.

Compost is ready to use when it looks dark and crumbly and few of the original components are visible. Enjoy the fall colors while they last and remember the benefits of using the leaves in your yard.

For more ideas for fall leaves see: https://go.osu.edu/ideas4leaves

Sprague is an Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer in Mahoning County.