Do not add diseased plant material to your compost pile at the end of the growing season. The compost will not heat up enough to kill any pathogens.
Compost is not considered a fertilizer. However, it does contain valuable micro-nutrients, improves soil structure and water holding capacity.
Don’t rake your leaves. Chop them up with the lawn mower. Leave finely chopped leaves on the lawn. They will decompose and add nutrients. However, a thick layer of leaves increases the chance for snow mold. As long as you can see the grass through the leaf pieces, the lawn will be fine.
Information provided by the University of Minnesota Extension Service.
