Sweep up and reuse lawn care products that fall on streets, sidewalks and driveways. Composting leaves recycles nutrients. Leaves can also be used as mulch for plants. If you have less than two inches of leaves on your lawn, leave them in place and make several passes over them with a power mower. Shredding them into a fine, thin layer will provide your grass with valuable nutrients and your lawn will look like it was just raked.
Bag leaves for pickup as a last resort.
Grow grass, not phosphorus-laden algae Phosphorus from fertilizers often runs off lawns and ends up in our wetlands. Even small amounts of phosphorus cause significant algae and weed growth. This decreases a lake's water quality and recreational value. Many stores in Bloomington carry low-phosphorus fertilizers. Avoid sprinkling fertilizer on sidewalks, driveways and streets where it can wash directly into the storm sewer.