Your trees have been providing you with valuable organic mulch for the past few weeks. Pine needles, for instance, have been falling like rain as the trees discard old foliage and prepare for the next growing season.

A large pine can supply two to three bales of straw each year. At $4 per bale, that's a valuable commodity.

Fall leaves are another great value right now -- free and readily available.

Many gardeners use leaves in their compost pile or vegetable garden, which is great. But too many gardeners shy from using them because they are less attractive than other materials and they may blow away. In that case, why not use a two-inch layer of leaves as a foundation for more attractive mulches and thereby reduce the cost of the more expensive materials? Or, you can cut up the leaves with the lawn mower, which would help hold them in place and also be more attractive.

Mulch saves you time and money. Here are some other benefits:

- Mulches also help insulate the roots of plants against summer heat and winter cold by maintaining a uniform and moderate temperature around the roots.

- Mulches encourage rapid plant establishment by providing a uniform soil moisture level instead of wet-dry fluctuations. Research has shown that nitrogen and potassium penetrate the soil more deeply and uniformly when a uniform moisture supply is maintained with mulch.

- Mulches conserve water by controlling evaporation from the soil during hot summer days.

- As organic mulches decompose they add nutrients to the soil and improve the structure and texture of the soil in the vicinity of the feeder roots.

- Mulches prevent weeds, which helps you avoid root injury from hoeing or cultivation. They prevent mud splattering on plants and reduce soil-borne diseases.

- Large beds of mulches or low-maintenance ground covers provide an excellent alternative to high-maintenance turfgrass areas.

- Mulched shade trees grow substantially larger and faster.

BRINGING HOUSE PLANTS INSIDE FOR THE WINTER: You probably brought all your houseplants inside about two weeks ago when we had some scattered frost in the area. Did you check them for insects or lizards before you brought them in?

Unfortunately, most people don't. Certain insects can cause damage and sticky honeydew, and lizards can be hard to see since they blend in so well with the plants.

After the plants at my house had been inside for a week, I happen to see a lizard on one of the plants. I know many of you ladies are scared of them (including my wife), but they are harmless. If you find a lizard inside, the best way to get it out (if you don't want to try and pick it up) is to throw a towel over it and just take it outside and let it go.

The main insects to look for on the plants are spider mites and aphids. Inspect your plants closely, especially the underside of the leaves.

Use a magnifying glass and a white piece of paper. Shake the plant over the paper and you can see the spider mites.

If you find insects, isolate the plants. Several thorough washings with plain water may bring them under control. If not, apply an insecticide, following label instructions.

Sid Mullis is the director of the University of Georgia Extension Service office for Richmond County. Call him at (706) 821-2349, or send e-mail to smullis@uga.edu.