Why mulch grass clippings

To avoid a thick "thatch" of grass clippings on the lawn, be sure you have a reasonable grass-mowing height. Don't wait too long before mowing a lawn; mow frequently and consistently so clippings do not turn into thatch. At the outset, mulching grass clippings into the lawn may feel like you are creating more waste.

After all, bagged clippings get whisked away, while mulched clippings remain in the yard. However, be assured that you are not creating more waste - the clippings are organic matter that will decompose quickly.

On the other hand, the plastic bags used to toss clippings do not decompose quickly. Though grass mulching does help reduce thatch buildup, the rate of grass growth and more frequent mowing in the spring may outpace the ability for mulched clippings to decompose, leading to clumping and increased thatch: the opposite of the desired effect.

Be conscientious about the type of grass that grows in the region where you live. Most of the time, the general rule of thumb is to cut grass no shorter than two-thirds its original length and no shorter than a length of three inches when mulching.

However, this rule doesn't apply to all grass species, so do a little research beforehand to learn the appropriate mulching techniques for the lawn in your yard. Additionally, some grass types hold more moisture than others, so again, do the research. Do you know how to clean a mower deck? To continue getting good results from mulching, mower decks that are used frequently for mulching grass should be cleaned more regularly than a mower deck that's discharging regular grass clippings.

That debris buildup under the mower deck then disrupts the airflow necessary to recirculate grass inside the deck's cutting chamber and mulch it effectively. Mulching only works with well-maintained equipment. This means that both the deck aerodynamics and the mulching blades themselves need to be in tip-top condition. Mulching blades need to be sharpened more frequently so they don't lose their effectiveness chopping grass blades into super fine pieces.

Mulching lawns that have a lot of weeds aren't doing your landscape any favors. Instead of thickening the grass, mulching will help spread weed seeds and leave your lawn with more weeds.

This is where bagging beats mulching. Continue collecting grass clippings and haul them away until the weeds are gone. Mulching a lawn that's received applications of pesticides or fertilizers won't necessarily be harmful to a lawn, but it may not have the effect you expect.

Pesticides and fertilizers kill the microorganisms that eat away at mulch, and if those bugs aren't present, there's nothing left to process the mulch clippings and release their nutrients. Do you know what it takes to start mulching? The invention of a new class of mowing blades — mulching blades — let mowers chop the grass blades into finer pieces that are harder to see and decompose more quickly.

Mulching allows the clippings to revitalize the lawn with nutrients as they decay. There are at least five benefits to mulching your grass clippings. Leaving the mulch in your lawn returns several pounds of nutrients to your lawn each season. Lawn clipping mulch allows you to skip the time and expense of a nitrogen fertilizer cycle while still maintaining a healthy lawn.

Mulching your yard clippings reduces dump fees and keeps yard waste out of already-strained landfills. The mulching of yard trimmings has been a success story for landfills. A report from the U.

Environmental Protection Agency, shows Americans generate about But just Also, state governments have taken action to keep yard trimmings out of their landfills. According to data from The Composting Council, 25 states have regulations limiting or banning yard clippings in landfills. You could also have a compost pile for clippings. Bagging yard clippings or leaves with a rake can take a while. You can save time and effort by using a material collection system MCS. Any blades should work when bagging, but if you want finer pieces, you should use a mulching blade.

Most of the time, mulching your clippings is the best option. You should bag your clippings if the grass is tall, leaves are covering the lawn, or you need to prevent disease and weeds from spreading. Whether you're mulching or bagging, Hutson has the right tools for the job. If you need help finding the right equipment, give us a call or visit one of our stores. Skip to content. Mowers When to mulch or bag lawn clippings by Austin Gordon.

Mulching pros and cons Pros Healthy for your lawn - clippings are returned to the lawn, providing nutrients and helping the soil retain moisture.

This is sometimes referred to as "grasscycling.