Clip 'n Save

Ways to turn your grass clippings into savings -

less work, less garbage, less fertilizer...

Leave grass clippings on the lawn — grasscycle!

Garden experts say it’s good for your lawn. Garden centres sell mulching mowers to make this easier.

How do you do it?

• adjust your mower to leave a longer blade of grass, about 2.5-3 inches (6-8 cm)
• mow when the lawn clippings will be an inch (2.5 cm) or less
• cut the grass when it is dry
• keep mower blades sharp
• give the lawn a thorough raking and aeration every spring

Do I need a special (mulching) mower?

No, you can use any mower that allows the cutting height to be adjusted. Mulching mowers make finer cuttings and blow them into the turf. Some manufacturers have kits available that modify older lawn mowers by blocking off the clipping chute.

What are the benefits?

• no heavy bags of clippings to handle
• reduces nitrogen fertilizer needs by 25% (or more) after two years
• longer grass reduces evaporation, helps with weed competition
• considered a healthy lawn care practice
• safe way to handle clippings from herbicide-treated lawns
• reduces garbage and saves landfill space
  

What are the drawbacks?

• lawn needs to be mowed more frequently, especially in the spring
• mulching mowers don’t chop clippings longer than 2“ (5 cm) well
• regular mowers leave longer clippings that stay on the top of the lawn for a couple of days before working into the lawn

Do I have to leave the clippings on every time?

No. It is best to have a lawn mower that lets you either collect or leave the clippings, depending on the situation. Some people leave the clippings in the front yard and collect in the back. Others collect every other cutting, or only when the lawn has grown too long.

Use grass clippings as mulch

Mulch is a layer of material placed on top of the soil to slow evaporation, control weeds and protect against temperature extremes. Grass clippings make a great mulch that slowly breaks down and becomes part of the soil.

Grass clipping mulch hints:

must be herbicide-free clippings (wait at least three mowings after chemical application before using as mulch) clippings can be used fresh or dried use as a summer mulch around vegetables and annual flowers, after the soil has warmed in the spring apply a 4” (10 cm) layer around plant, leaving air space around stem apply mulch to moist, weed-free soil replenish the mulch layer as needed throughout the summer use as a 4-6” (10-15 cm) permanent mulch under trees — leave at least a 4” (10 cm) unmulched zone around the tree trunk

When should I avoid using grass clippings as mulch?

• when you have just used a herbicide on the lawn (see above)
• when you have a slug problem – they hide underneath the mulch
• in very wet years when the soil is waterlogged and needs to dry out

Add grass clippings to your compost

Grass clippings make a great addition to your compost pile.

Green Grass clippings and Compost hints: grass clippings are a source of nitrogen or a ‘green’ they need to be balanced by the addition of an equal, or slightly larger, amount of high carbon ‘browns’ such as fall leaves, dry grass or straw mix the grass clippings with the brown materials to make an airy mix add water until the mixture is moist add a shovelful of topsoil when adding clippings to help the composting process

Can I make compost with only grass clippings? Composting works best with a mix of materials, but it is possible to make an all-grass compost pile if that is all you have available. Dry out about half the clippings and mix them with fresh ones. All-grass compost has to be stirred frequently to keep it from compacting.

For more information on making compost, see Composting and other Down-to Earth Solutions  

Check out Community Composting Programs

If grasscycling, mulching and composting can’t use up all your grass clippings, check with your municipality to see if they have a community composting option for you.

Think beyond lawn

If your lawn isn’t used much, or if you are re-designing your yard, consider being more adventurous. You can make landscaping choices without lawns that are very beautiful and reduce both work and water use. Creating the Prairie Xeriscape by Sara Williams and the Gardener for the Prairies magazine are two good sources of ideas for Saskatchewan

March 2008

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