Last week we reviewed the basics of lawn mowing. We touched on one aspect, but there is more that you should know when it comes to bagging your lawn clippings vs. mulching them. Which is better? Here are some facts about mulching that may help you decide which is better for you. Let’s begin!
Facts About Mulching
Faster
You’ve just spent your time cutting every blade of grass in your lawn. You don’t really want to have to go back and collect all those clippings. You’ll save a nice chuck of time by leaving those clippings be as mulch. And if you’re lucky enough to have a mower that collects the clippings for you, you’ll save the time it would have taken to stop throughout the mowing process, empty the grass catcher, and transfer the clippings to another bag. With mulching, you won’t have to worry about hauling bags to the curb or disposing of them yourself.
Cheaper
As mentioned above, bagging your glass clippings requires some extra supplies – like buying bags to put all those clippings in. When given back to your lawn, grass clippings will save you money on fertilizer. That’s right, mulching is basically free fertilizer!
Added Nutrients
When you mulch, you save on fertilizer, and your lawn gets an added boost of nutrients. While the professionals at My All Green recommend that you fertilize your lawn a few times a year, you can give your lawn a free and easy boost each time you mow by leaving the clippings. These clippings have many of the same elements as fertilizer; nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. If you leave your clippings they can feed your lawn up 30% of the food they need each year!
The Clippings
If you’re hesitant to mulch because of those pesky grass clippings getting in your shoes or tracked into your home, don’t worry. If you are mowing your lawn correctly (like only cutting off the top 1/3 of the blade, avoid mowing when the lawn is wet, and keeping your blades sharp) you shouldn’t have an issue with this. Grass clippings are made mostly of water, so they should break down quickly and be out of your way. Following proper mowing techniques will also help you avoid big clumps.
When you Should Bag
There are a few instances you should bag your grass clippings. If you notice any disease in any spot of your lawn, you should pick up the clippings to avoid spreading whatever may be harming your lawn. If you’re going to be cutting more than 1/3 of the blade, then you should bag it to avoid clumps. These clumps are not only a nuisance, but they sit and rot rather than decompose. This kills the grass beneath it and can introduce disease.
Overall, mulching is a quick and cheap way to give some nutrients back to your lawn. If your lawn hasn’t had its early summer fertilization yet, give My All Green a call for a free quote!