Fall is an excellent time to help wildlife, big and small, prepare for the harsh winter months. While raking the leaves may make your yard look pristine, think twice and leave a few piles to help wildlife. As leaf piles decay, they become a much-needed resource for birds, reptiles and amphibians. Insects and other food sources hide in these leaves, and the larger animals scavenge inside the piles for nourishment. One more reason to leave leaves unraked: As they decay, they add nourishment to your soil.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Even if you’re not in the market to adopt a pet from your local animal shelter, your virtual browsing for adoptable cats and dogs can help them find homes. When you find amazing pets, share and like their images on your social media channels. Connecting adoptable pets to your friends and followers by sharing their images can help them go viral and bring them to the attention of prospective pet owners who may be the perfect match. Social media can be used to help find all of these animals great, loving homes.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Adding mulch to your landscaping is an easy way to help lock in water (especially useful in the summer and in arid parts of the country) and add some beauty to your yard. But not all mulch is the same. Many colorful mulches that come in colors like black, red and green are actually dyed, and they are dyed to hide the fact that the wood used to make them comes from a variety of sources, like old decking, demolished buildings and even treated hardwood pallets. This means your mulch could be loaded with chemicals that you’re adding to your yard. The dye is added to hide the inconsistencies. Use natural, dye-free mulch whenever possible.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION