How many of us conscientiously clear our yards of grass clippings when we mow the lawn? Maybe your mower has a bag or perhaps you carefully rake until the yard is nearly spotless. Some people use the clippings as a form of compost for gardens or flowerbeds, while others bag up grass clippings and other lawn debris and set them out with the trash.
Not only do bags of lawn clippings take up more space in landfills, but they may also even be forbidden by some waste removal companies. At the same time, it may be a waste to toss them, as they can be useful in maintaining your lawn. The best description I found is at Landscapemall.com. Basically, it says that grass is cultivated, fertilized, watered, and cared for like a “crop,” but then the very crop -the grass- that is being grown is not only cut down but also thrown away.
Instead, try grass cycling or lawn cycling. You can re-use the grass that’s been cut and also save yourself the effort of raking and/or bagging. It works well to fertilize the lawn and also to protect, by blocking sunlight and keeping in moisture and nutrients.
It’s also worth noting that many people simply cut their grass too short. Doing so causes grass to struggle, in a sense fearing that it is being destroyed, so it works twice as hard to grow. This means you’ll have to cut your grass more often, although many people assume that cutting it very short means they won’t have to mow as often. Over-watering is another culprit of causing grass to grow more quickly, requiring more frequent cuttings.
These tips can help us not only avoid creating more fill for landfills but also help us avoid mowing more than is necessary, thus saving energy (power/fuel).
Yard and Garden: Never Mow Your Lawn Again!
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