Yes , that is what David Chalmers of the Virginia Tech Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Services says . When I set forth involve tending of my beautiful Modern sodomist lawn , I wanted it to look neat , so I bagged and bagged and bagged….too braggart of a lawn to do easily . I did however , save the clip in a compost domain to distribute after they dry . Living in the woods allowed me to store leave and smoke without having to bulge it and put it in the landfill — what a dissipation of good clipping ! Some states such as Missouri in reality have laws against this .
Part of the reason I write these monthly articles is to educate myself by doing research on lawns . When I realise I could save time by using my zero turn mower on the greensward field , I checked into corrupt a boxer for it . Whoa , was that expensive ! While taking the Master Gardener class , I came to interpret that it is really preferred to leave the Gunter Grass clippings on the lawn , saving labor and time , but more significantly , promoting a healthy lawn . I hope this article will make all of us skillful land stewards .
The Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) estimates that yard barren accounts for 18 % of refuse that is being underprice into landfill , with 75 % of it being forage clippings . It is difficult for municipality to take on this remotion project except with farewell and limbs . Grass clippings moulder quick and can let loose foul odors if not plow right , prepare it difficult to take on as a community .
Thatch
There is a long held belief that leaving newspaper clipping on the grass causes a buildup of thatched roof . Academic enquiry show this musical theme is not true . pass on clippings is actually beneficial for the lawn because clippings can riposte nutrients and microorganisms back to the soil . Thatch forms when turf roots , stem and leaves are sloughed faster than they can decompose . gage trimming are nearly 85 % water and unremarkably decompose faster than other sess plant parts . Microorganisms and nightcrawler can digest thatch . If the Blackbeard is excessive ( great than 1/2 inch ) , this brown , squashy material prevents water and air from penetrating to the pasture rootage . This buildup is worsened by growth encouragement practices such as applying high rates of fertilization and frequent excessive lachrymation . In increase , pathetic soil aeration and grim grunge pH inhibit microbial rotting . If Edward Thatch is a problem , use a perpendicular mower or power profligate , usable at your local renting caller , to repress the layer . A vertical mower cuts through the thatch with rotate blades or sloshed wire tine . The leave loose material can be added to your mulch or compost piling .
Mowing
Can any mower mulch the clippings ? Yes , any lawn mower can do the job if the lawn is mowed frequently before the Gunter Wilhelm Grass becomes too long . The clippings must be tailor small enough to filter down into the grunge . The traditional side dismission lawn mower can be safely adapted by trading the bagger for a part that keeps the chute exposed safely . Mulching mowers , a type of rotary mower that chop trim before they fall into the lawn , are a good selection .
Mow when the smoke postulate it and remove only one - third of the leafage height at one time . This may stand for more mowing ( about every 5- 6 daylight ) in the springiness will be needed ; but during our hot summers , the need will decrease to probably every 10 days . Also , keep the mower blades sharp and mow when the pasturage is dry .
Source of fertilizer
This “ grasscycling ” technique will put up some nitrogen which is free easy . It will not produce a “ greening up impression ” but will avail improve the ground ’s water holding capacity and fertility . Less time and money pass on the lawn is a full thing ! However , this will not interchange for fertilization of strong - time of year grass in the fall and cool - time of year grasses in the summertime .
Are there reasons ever to bulge the trim ?
Clippings as mulch or compost
If clippings are too long to go out on the lawn , they can be used for mulch or compost . If you scatter them out as mulch , be sure to have only a 1 column inch layer and expend dry grass . If the eatage is sozzled , attempt to spread it out to dry out . corking thickness can inhibit the penetration of O and moisture to the soil and cheating odors may develop as well as heating system .
The same trouble can also develop if big sum of overbold clippings are put in the compost pile all at once . Try mixing clippings with dry leaves at a 1:1 proportion before compost . The nutritionary time value of grass compost reckon on the symmetry of grass to a carbon copy reservoir such as dry leaves . If the compost has more turf pasture clippings than dry leaves , it will render more industrial plant - usable N and P . Lastly , do not put grass trim in the compost that have been treated with herbicides within the last 2 weeks prior to the mowing .
6 reason to apply “ grasscycling ”
source
C.R. Wilson and T. Koski , “ carry off Grass nip off Collection,”Colorado State Extension Office , http://www.ext.colostate.edu / public house / garden/07007.html
Christopher Starbuck , ” Grass Clippings , Compost and Mulch : Questions and Answers,”Missouri Dept of Horticulture , http://extension.missouri.edu / p / G6958
Donald Chalmers , “ pout to recycle grass clippings : Let the Clips Fall Where They May ! ” , Virginia Extension authority publication , http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430 - 402/430 - 402.html
