As we transition from summer to fall, the leaves on the trees start to change color and eventually all the leaves will fall to the ground.

Traditionally, home owners get out the rake or the leaf blower and try to clean up the yard, but Crystal Bazar, Urban Forestry Technician with the City of Airdrie said there's a better way.

"Instead of raking your leaves, especially if you don't have way too many is just to mulch them with your lawn mover, it's essentially free fertilizer for your lawn and your tree roots."

Bazar said that you can buy special mulching blades or just use your regular blades and go over the leaves two or three times to get them small enough to break down.

If you have too many leaves and you need to rake some of them up, Bazar wants to remind you to use your green organics bin instead of trash bags to compost the leaves.

"Airdrie Recycle Depot accepts leaves and pumpkins throughout the fall and we compost that out at the transfer site and use the compost to amend sports fields and boulevards in the spring."

Bazar said the mulched leaves provide a great amount of nutrients to your lawn and the soil, keeping it health for the following spring.