As the vibrant colors of summer fade, a different kind of treasure appears in our backyards: fallen leaves. Many gardeners see this annual leaf drop as a chore, a messy blanket to be raked up and ...

There are a lot of leaves outside my window, and I’m guessing your view might be similar. This carpet of dead foliage is often viewed as a nuisance, but it can be an important component in the garden.

There are a lot of leaves outside my window, and I’m guessing your view might be similar. This carpet of dead foliage is often viewed as a nuisance, but it can be an important component in the garden.

If you’ve ever walked through a forest after the rain, you’ve experienced the magic of leaf mold—whether you realized it or not. That soft, springy, sweet-earth-smelling layer under your feet? That’s ...