Cut It and Leave It - Reduce Grass Clippings Waste

[The Green Team]

The following information on grasscycling is from the NJ Department of
Environmental Protection and Zero Waste California.

Grass clippings are a major part of New Jersey's solid waste stream.
You can just cut your lawn and leave the clippings to save time and
money. You'll save 20-25% of your time because you won't have to stop
to empty your lawnmower bag, and you'll avoid purchasing yard waste
bags and hauling them to the curb. You'll need to fertilize 25-50%
less, since clippings return nutrients to the soil.

Most New Jersey lawns should be mowed 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches high,
especially in the summer to shade the soil, cool the roots and block
weed growth. Mulching mowers help you do this. They chop the clippings
into fine pieces that slip easily down to the soil. Most new mowers
are mulching mowers. Mulching equipment can be attached to other
mowers.

Controlling watering rates will help your lawn grow at manageable
levels and still stay healthy. Don't water until the lawn is dry. If
it turns blue-green or gray, or if footprints don't spring back, it's
time to water. Provide about an inch at a time for clay soil and half
an inch for sandy soil.

You can place a few cans around the lawn to track water accumulation.
Even in dry periods, lawns will usually need a thorough watering only
once a week, or twice if soils are sandy. If managed carefully, water
will soak the soil four to six inches down, just right for building
healthy root systems and greener growth. Early morning watering
conserves water by avoiding evaporation.

Too many lawn additives are used too often. It costs money and may
harm the lawn. It is better to evaluate problems and apply only what
you need. You can contact the County Agricultural Extension Agent at
973-285-8300 for expert advice on lawn care and disease treatment.

Information on the 2011 NJ Fertilizer Law can be viewed at:
http://snyderfarm.rutgers.edu/fertilizerlawFAQ.html

Herbicides remain on grass for some time and can make the clippings
unsuitable for mulch. If you use herbicides make sure to cut it and
leave it.

Too much herbicide can burn your lawn, kill nearby plants and
contaminate waterways. Instead of repeated wholesale lawn application
of weed killers, try a one-time pre-emergent weed killer and spot
application if your lawn has only a few weeds.
Will grasscycling make my lawn look bad?

Not if you follow the 1/3 rule. Mow high and mow often so that no more
than 1/3 of the length of the grass is cut. Short clippings decompose
quickly and will not cover the grass surface.

What if I miss a week or heavy rain causes fast growth?

In those cases, you have several options:

Double mow: set the mower higher than usual and cut no more than the
top third of the grass. In a day or two, set the mower height down and
bring the lawn down another 1/3 of its height. Continue this process
until you reach the desired height.

Mulch heavy clippings into the garden: bag or rake the clippings and
apply them to your garden as mulch. Spread them an inch deep, to cool
the soil, retain water, prevent erosion and compaction and smother
weed seeds.

Mix them with the soil:New Jersey soil can be improved by adding
organic matter. Added organic materials make heavy clay soils become
more productive and sandy soils retain more water.

Compost: grass speeds up your composting, but can cause odors and
deplete oxygen if not properly managed. If you compost large amounts
of grass, turn the pile often.

Does grasscycling cause thatch buildup?

Research has shown that grass roots and stems are the primary causes
of thatch, not grass clippings. Roots and stems contain large amounts
of lignin (wood), a substance that decomposes very slowly. The more
you fertilize and water your lawn, the more it grows and the faster
thatch accumulates.

By contrast, grass clippings are 80-85% water with only small amounts
of lignin and they decompose rapidly.