Grasscycling |
What is "Grasscycling"?
Grasscycling is a simple and natural approach to lawncare. Leave your clippings on the lawn after mowing and they will decompose quickly, releasing valuable nutrients back into the soil.
When practiced in conjunction with proper lawn management, grasscycling can reduce water and fertilizer requirements, mowing time and disposal costs. Grasscycling is a program to encourage leaving grass clippings generated by lawn mowing on-site rather than bagging the clippings for disposal or composting.
Benefits
- Save time and expense: Grasscycling saves time because you don't need to pick up and bag the clippings. It saves money because there are no bags of clippings or extra cans to set out with the trash.
- Protect the environment: Reduce refuse and waste by 20% or more.
- Save the gas and energy required to transport grass clippings to a central compost site or landfill.
- Maintain natural, healthy soil systems.
Facts about Grass Clippings
- Grass clippings are 75% to 85% water. When you mow regularly, they quickly decompose and release nutrients to fertilize the lawn.
- The nitrogen contained in grass clippings almost equals the recommended application rate for healthy turf (5 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet per year). While some of this nitrogen is lost through the decomposition process, grasscycling can have the overall impact of reducing fertilization requirements by 25% or more.
- Grass clippings do not cause thatch. Thatch is a tightly intermingled layer of living and dead stems, leaves and roots of grass that develops between the green grass and the soil surface and is caused by short, frequent watering.
- Rogue Disposal estimates that yard waste material comprises approximately 20% of the Rogue Valley's throwaway trash between the months of March and October. Grass clippings constitute up to 50% of the total yard trimmings during these months.
Choosing a Lawn Mower
 Preferences for mowers and lawn treatment vary. It may be possible to mulch with the mower you now own:
- A mulching blade or an adapter kit may be available for your mower (typical cost: $20-$40)
- If you have a mower with a trap door over the discharge chute, you may be able to use your mower for mulching. Consult your owners manual for information.
- Before attempting to use a mower you now own for mulching, consult your local equipment dealer concerning safe operational practices. Never remove the bag from the mower without assuring protection from flying stones and sticks.
Many new mulching mowers are on the market, including dedicated mulchers and combination mowers with mulching and bagging options. Mowers made for mulching cut and re-cut the clippings until they are fine enough to sift deep into the turf. The deck of a mulching mower is designed to circulate the clippings to allow the fine cutting action.
Manual push mowers with easy-roll wheels do not use gasoline or discharge fumes to the air. Such mowers are especially popular for use on small lawns.
Tips for Mulching with a Non-Mulching Mower
- Keep the blade sharp. A dull blade tears the grass tips instead of mulching them.
- Keep the deck clean. Wash the underside of the mower after each use. A clogged deck won't mulch or discharge well.
- Cut the grass high. Adjust the mower blade so that only the top one-third of the grass blade is cut. Leave at least 2-3 inches on the grass blades after cutting. Tall grass stems stimulate deep root growth, since grass roots grow as deep as the blade grows high.
- Cut as often as necessary to insure that only 1/3 of the blades need to be removed. During times of rapid growth, you may need to mow every 5-6 days.
- Don't worry about thatch. The top portions of the clippings are primarily water and quickly break down. Troublesome thatch comes from root, stem and sheath buildup caused by over-fertilization and excessive watering.
- Cut when the grass is dry in order to avoid a wet, sticky mess on your lawn and inside the mower deck.
When to Pick Up Clippings
- If you mow infrequently or if your grass grows vigorously, you should collect the clippings.
- If the clippings are smothering the grass and have not decomposed before the next mowing, remove them.
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