Homeowners take on this job in different ways. Some do it the standard way, by manually raking leaves into piles, where they are loaded and hauled away. Strong blowers are sometimes used to blow them to other locations or into piles. Others choose to rig the lawn mower up so that it will vacuum and bag excess leaves from the lawn. Don't throw them away, or even worse - don't burn them.
Leaves are a valuable resource, finding uses in many phases of gardening.
Mulch Leaves make good mulch. They can be placed on the soil surface beneath and around shrubs, trees, perennials and annuals. Leaves can also be added to established beds to freshen old mulch layers and to maintain the recommended 2 to 3 inch depth. A better leaf mulch can be made by mixing leaves from several different species of trees. This practice alters the texture of the finished product and allows for better penetration of water and air.