Don’t Bag Those Clippings
You’ve probably heard the age old question: “Should I bag my lawn clippings or leave them on the lawn?” In most cases, the answer is pretty simple: Leave the lawn clippings on the lawn! By leaving the clippings not only will you save time and energy, but you will also be returning valuable nutrients to the lawn.
Grass Clippings act as fertilizer
On of the most important things you need to do to your lawn is to feed it regularly, grass clippings contain the same beneficial nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium nutrients that lawn fertilizer does. In fact, lawn clippings can provide up to one-third of the annual nutrients your lawn requires.
Less Work for You
In addition to adding the nutrients back into the your soil, leaving the clippings will reduce your mowing time and save you the hassle of emptying the bagger and having to dispose of the clippings.
Some easy guidelines to follow
Here are a few things you can do to help your grass stay strong and looking good. Be sure to routinely sharpen your mower blades and mow regularly at the recommended cutting height for your type of grass. Don’t mow when the grass is wet. If the grass is so tall that mowing at your normal cutting height will remove more than one-third of the length, you should raise the height of your mower. You can mow your yard once at the raised cutting height, and then mow it again in a different direction at the normal height. You can avoid a growth surge by using a slow-release fertilizer.
It won’t create a thatch problem
Contrary to what you may have heard, leaving lawn clippings on the lawn will not cause a thatch problem. Thatch is a layer of partially decomposed grass between the soil and living grass. Grass clippings are primarily water, so as long as you are mowing frequently at the right height, the grass clippings will break down and disappear rapidly.
There may be exceptions: when Bagging is Okay?
There are some circumstances when bagging your grass clippings may be warranted. If you see any signs of lawn disease, you may want to bag the clippings to avoid the spead of any fungus. Grass clippings may also be collected for use in a compost piles or to be used as beneficial mulch. Many people bag their grass clippings for aesthetic purposes or to keep the clippings from being tracked through the house. In most cases, simply following these mowing guidelines will avoid any clumps that detract from your lawn’s appearance and will keep the grass clippings small enough to filter down into the lawn.
