Grasscycling is Eco-friendly Grass Cutting
Last updated: 7 March 2024
What is grasscycling? It is recycling your grass clippings by leaving them on your lawn instead of collecting them with a grass catcher. It’s an easy way to reduce yard waste and decrease your grass-cutting time. Mulched grass decomposes quickly, recycling nutrients. Grasscycling is an eco-friendly lawn maintenance practice.
Mow tall and let the clippings fall…
Bag ’em only when necessary!
Why do many homeowners bag their clippings? It is most likely a habit – they have always bagged grass clippings. Maybe it’s because grass catchers are sold with most lawnmowers?
It is nice to collect clippings when there is a lot of debris on the lawn – like leaves – or when mowing around a swimming pool and you don’t want them getting into the water.
Bagging Grass Clippings Removes Nutrients
Instead of bagging, simply leave grass clippings on your lawn to decompose naturally. Grass clippings decompose quickly and are a source of nutrients and organic matter. Did you know that about 25% of the nitrogen in your lawn fertilizer is removed with grass clippings?
Grasscycling does not cause thatch buildup. Thatch occurs as a part of the natural regeneration of grass plants. It is mostly a build-up of dead crowns and roots. Grass clippings are more than 90% water and they decompose quickly.
As a lawn care business owner, one of my pet peeves is bagging clippings. I charge customers extra to bag and haul grass clippings. Then, I either take them home and use them in my vegetable garden or I take them to a compost site.
Therefore…If you need to bag your clippings, compost them or use them as mulch.
Grass clippings work well as mulch in a vegetable garden. Just don’t use them in your vegetable garden if herbicides have been applied to your lawn.
For good information about growing your own food, please visit backyard-vegetable-gardening.com
It’s easier – and better – to just leave them on your lawn!
Lose the bag and recycle your clippings.
Mowers today are good at recycling clippings. They make mulching mowers with blades designed to chop and grind the cuttings. Side-discharge mowers will also work – just don’t let your grass get too long
Grasscycling Tips
- Mow frequently – remove no more than 1/3 length of the grass blades.
- Mow when it’s dry – wet grass leaves clumps on your lawn.
- Use a mower with mulching blades – some are even made with mulching decks.
- Keep your lawn mower blades sharp!
- If you do end up with grass clumps, use a leaf blower, or rake, to spread them. They will quickly disappear into your lawn.
Have you heard about the Sunday Smart Lawn Plan? It’s simple, do-it-yourself natural lawn care that’s customized to your soil, climate, and lawn. Delivered to you right when you need it.
Sunday’s plant and soil nutrient products are made from food waste, seaweed, and molasses. The natural additives stimulate plant growth and activate soil life.
This is Super Environmentally Friendly lawn care!
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