GRASSCYCLING HOW RECYCLING GRASS CLIPPINGS HELPS OUR LAWNS AND THE ENVIRONMENT There are many ways to help the environment when it comes to recycling and waste reduction. According to the U.S. EPA in the Municipal Solid Waste Management 2002 Update, 12% of what goes into landfills is yard waste. So what can you and I do to divert solid waste from landfills that are reaching full or near full capacity? One simple action we can take is grasscycling. It is not that difficult if we follow a few rules. Grasscycling is mowing the grass and leaving the clippings on the lawn. We don’t have to bag it! We just leave it there. No plastic bags, rakes, and bending backs! If done correctly, the clippings provide moisture and nutrients to our lawns. Grass clippings are 75­85% moisture, which is good for the lawn. Also clippings are a natural fertilizer since they have nitrogen in them. It is estimated that a person who grasscycles uses 25% less fertilizer because of the nitrogen in the clippings. Fertilization of lawns is most important in the fall and late fall. Some fertilizer is needed in the spring and summer but too much fertilization during these times can cause disease and rapid growth of the grass that requires more frequent mowing. A good fertilizer has slow release nitrogen (water insoluble form) and quick release nitrogen (water soluble form). The slow release is critical to reducing rapid topgrowth and the need for more frequent mowing. Here are a few tips on grasscycling and lawn care: §
Mow more frequently; try to mow when the grass is dry. §
Follow the “1/3 Mowing Rule” – remove only 1/3 of the leaf blade length; e.g. if Kentucky bluegrass is normally mowed at two inches, then mow it when it is 3 inches in height, cutting it down to 2 inches in height. Grass mowed at the recommended height will have deeper, stronger root systems and better drought tolerance. Let grass grow to 3­5 inches and then mow. §
Mow at higher heights during the summer to keep soil temperatures cooler, preserve soil moisture and help maintain grass quality. Higher grass heights also result in fewer weeds. §
Change the direction of mowing every one to two mowings – mow at right angles to the previous direction. §
Keep mower blades sharp. There are reel mowers, rotary mowers, and mulch mowers. Mulch mowers cut the grass and then recut the clippings many times to allow the small pieces of clippings to disappear into the lawn. Rotary mowers can be adjusted for mowing heights. (There may be information on adapter kits or mulching blades for your old mower.) The old reel mowers can also be used and if properly adjusted, will provide a higher quality cut than a rotary mower. However, reel mowers may be difficult to sharpen and some models can’t be adjusted for mowing height.
§
During the hot, dry summer, grass becomes brown, stops growing, and becomes dormant. With favorable moisture and temperature conditions in the fall, the grass will normally revive. In the summer during the driest periods, if you want green, growing grass, water about one inch per week and water deeply (six to eight inches). Watering deeply promotes deep root growth. The best time to water is in the morning because there is less evaporation. Watering in the evening can promote disease problems. (You may decide not to water when your lawn is dormant in order to conserve water!) NOTE: Cool season grasses can live 4­6 weeks in a dormant state. A person may prefer to leave the grass dormant because if the grass is watered when it is dormant, then greens up, and then goes dormant again and this keeps on being repeated, it can severely stress the grass. §
If grass gets too tall due to wet, rainy periods, then when you are able to mow, mow the grass high; once the clippings dry, lower the height adjustment on the mower to desired height and then mow a second time in a different direction. This is called “Double Cutting.” Some people believe that grasscycling causes more thatch, but it doesn’t. Thatch comes from grass parts like roots, stems, nodes, and crowns. Small grass clippings decompose quickly because of the high percentage of water. There is a movement now toward more natural lawn care that includes not only grasscycling but use of compost, natural organic fertilizers, and more. One way to get started with natural lawn care is to keep those grass clippings on the lawn! Remember, don’t bag it! Just let it go! For more information, go to http://ohioline.osu.edu (Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheets) and click on Yard and Garden, then click on lawns, and then lawn care. Sources for this article: q
Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheets – http://ohioline.osu.edu “Lawn Care Plans ­ Don’t Bag It – The Lawn Maintenance Plan”– Hyg­1191­93 “Lawn Mowing” – HYH­4020­93 q
The Ohio State University, Department of Horticulture and Crop Science q
“Natural Lawn Care for Western Washington” by Seattle Public Utilities, King County Water and Land Resources Division, and the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County q
“Grasscycling – Grasscycling can make mowing the lawn EASIER!” by King County Solid Waste Division in Washington State q
Madisonpride Yardcare – “Cutting yard waste now benefits all of us” by Madisonpride (City of Madison, WI) q
“Yard Care Do You Share!” by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources PUBL­WA­073 2001 q
“Don’t Trash Grass!” by The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Waste Management Bureau Recycling Program