Save time, money: Let the clips fall where they may!
Get ready, get set, mow! Many people spend much time and effort as part of their routine lawn maintenance raking, bagging and disposing of grass clippings. Could it be that this common practice is a waste of time, valuable landfill space and fertilizer?
A well-maintained lawn of 7,500 square feet can generate more than 3,000 pounds of grass clippings in one year. A study in Pinellas County found that each single-family household produces just under three-quarters of a ton of grass clippings a year.
From an environmental view, yard trash (clippings, leaves, etc.) accounts for up to 20 percent by weight of the total municipal waste produced year-round. During summer, this amount increases up to 50 percent.
Some studies have indicated that half of the yard waste is grass clippings. Not only do those clippings take up landfill space, but it costs cities thousands of dollars for the pickup and transportation of the clippings to landfills.
Grass clippings are a valuable resource. Grass clippings contain about 4 percent nitrogen, 2 percent potassium and one-half percent phosphorous, as well as smaller amounts of other essential plant nutrients. Each bag of grass clippings you throw away contains up to 1/4 pound organic nitrogen that could be used by your lawn!
Contrary to popular belief, clippings do not contribute to thatch (a spongy layer of dead and living shoots, stems, roots that builds up between the layer of green vegetation and the soil surface). Current research in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Kentucky and other states has shown time and time again that grass clippings do not contribute to thatch. Thatch does occur with excessive fertilization, improper mowing (height or frequency) or incorrect watering techniques.
Proper mowing is the key to successful grass cycling. This includes cutting the grass at the recommended height, maintaining a sharp mower blade, mowing when the grass is dry and mowing often enough to remove no more than one-third of the plant height.
If you allow the grass to grow too tall before mowing, clippings may become excessive and clumping may occur. In this situation you can spread the clippings out by raking lightly, remove the clippings and use them as mulch in tree and shrub beds or allow them to dry for a day or two, then mow again to distribute them more evenly.
All mowers can grass cycle and no special equipment is needed. However, many manufacturers sell mowers and mower attachments that chop clippings into smaller pieces and improve a mower’s grass cycling. performance. An inexpensive mulching blade can help reduce the size of the clippings.
Bottom line is that grass clippings just simply decompose too fast to form thatch. Raking or frequent emptying of mower grass catchers into expensive (and non-biodegradable) plastic bags is hard work. On the other hand, leaving the clippings on the lawn will recycle nutrients, provide a green, healthy lawn and reduce the amount of time and money you spend on lawn care.