|
Why bag your grass clippings?
After all, lawn care is hard
work. And bagging your lawn clippings is one of the most time-consuming
parts of the job. Sure, your lawn looks great afterwards. But, the bigger
your lawn, the more clippings, yard waste bags, the more exhausting the
process.
Now, consider for a moment not bagging your grass.
Gone are the hassles of stopping every few minutes to empty the mower,
raking, wrestling with expensive yard waste bags. Instead, your clippings are
working their way back into the soil.
You may thinkleaving the grass clippings is unhealthy for your lawn,
will cause excessive thatch build-up and kill your lawn.
The fact is that most thatch is not made up of grass, but roots, dead
leaf sheaths, and rhizomes which decompose slowly. Grass clippings
decompose rapidly, and can help make your lawn more vigorous and
durable.
Clippings contain the nutrients your lawn needs to grow. Every bag of
grass clippings contains up to 1/4 pound of usable organic nitrogen. You
can reduce your fertilization costs by recycling lawn clippings back into
the lawn.
But, there is one added reasonfor leaving your clippings on the
lawn. It is illegal in Illinois to mix grass clippings and yard waste with
your residential trash. Grass
clippings used to use up valuable landfill space, and contribute to methane
and leachate problems as well. So, keeping your lawn clippings out of the
garbage truck saves money and protects the environment.
Successfully recycling grass clippings back to your lawn requires only
the kind of attention all lawns should have on a regular basis.
 | Mow when your grass is dry and 3" to 4" tall. Never cut it shorter
than 2" to 2 1/2" in height. This height will allow your lawn to have a
larger and deeper root system, making a stronger defense against weeds
and droughts.
|
| Use a sharp mower blade (a mulching mower if you have one). A sharp
blade and frequent mowing will mean finer clippings that will decompose
quickly. (If you have trouble using your mower without the bagger, call
your hardware store or dealer for assistance.)
|
| Avoid over-fertilizing your lawn. If it becomes too dense with
growth, your clippings won't reach the soil to decompose.
|
| Remove excessive thatch before leaving your clippings on the lawn.
Although a 1/2" of thatch is no problem, a thick layer will keep
clippings from reaching the soil.
|
| Limit the use of lawn chemicals. Save money and allow soil organisms
to return nutrients to the soil by first correctly diagnosing lawn
problems and then applying corrective measures when needed. |
Now, this is not an all-or-nothing proposition...
You may
choose to collect your clippings every third time you mow, or every other
time. Regardless, you're creating a savings for you and the environment.
If you want to collect your clippings occasionally, recycle them as a
mulch in the garden or in planting beds. Mulching adds nutrients to soil,
reduces weed problems, and modifies soil temperature and moisture. Mulch
also helps erosion by protecting the soil surface.
However, avoid mulching with grass that's been recently treated with
herbicides which can harm your plants. Chemically treated clippings should
be left on the lawn for the first two cuttings after the treatment.
Subsequent cutting can be either left on the lawn or put into your compost
bin.
If you can't use grass clippings in your own yard, find a neighbor who
can or use our community;s municipal composting program.
According to turf experts, grass clippings
| reduce water evaporation from the lawn.
|
| reduce lawn wear by creating a cushioning layer.
|
| facilitate better growth by providing nutrients and keeping the soil
temperature cooler. |
If you have additional
questions contact
| Solid Waste Manager, McHenry County Dept. of Health
815 338-2514
or
|
| University of Illinois - Cooperative Extention Service
815
338-3737 or 338-4747
|
Based on materials published by
Ramsey County, MN and
Wisconsin Dept. of Natural
Resources. |
Environmental
Defenders of McHenry County 
