Grasscycling 101

Grasscycling is defined as the natural recycling of grass by leaving clippings on the lawn when mowing. When it is performed correctly, grass clippings will quickly decompose and naturally fertilize your lawn. It is an easy process that does not require any special equipment and offers a wide variety of advantages. Read on to learn more about this exciting trend and how it can benefit you.

Benefits of Grasscycling

Grasscycling can provide you and your lawn with a number of substantial benefits. First, it can save you time by eliminating the hours it would take to handle and bag grass clippings. With this process, you will no longer have to collect, bag, and transfer clippings into your yard waste cart or take them to a compositing facility.

In addition to saving you time, grasscycling can save you money. By allowing grass clipping to lie, you won’t have to dish out any cash on disposal for bags or your waste bill that is often based on the volume of trash you throw away. Since grass clippings that lie on the lawn serve as a protective cover to your lawn, they prevent sun damage, keep moisture in the soil, and also save water.

The Grasscycling Process

Fortunately, you can use any lawn mower to participate in grass recycling. If you own a lawn mower with a collection bag, remove it in order to allow grass clippings to fall into the soil. In the event that your lawn mower does not have a plug for the chute or safety flap covering the opening where the bag fits into the chute, call a nearby retailer and purchase a retrofit kit.

Prior to mowing, make sure that the blades on your mower are sharp and the grass is dry. During the fast-growing season, you will probably have to cut every week. However, when the grass grows at a slower pace, you may only need to mow your lawn every two weeks. If possible, be sure to water in the early morning hours and avoid over-watering as too much water may prompt shallow root systems in your lawn.

Proper fertilization is also crucial during grass recycling. For optimal results, apply smaller quantities of fertilizer more often. Just like over-watering, over-fertilizing can be an issue. Over-fertilizing can lead to excessive growth, which can significantly weaken your lawn.

Grass Recycling Myths

There are many myths on grasscycling. Some homeowners are nervous to engage in this process because they are afraid it will hinder the appearance of their lawn. With proper mowing, watering, and fertilization, grass recycling can actually generate a healthy looking lawn and resemble a beautiful park or golf course.

The idea that grass recycling triggers thatch build-up is another myth. According to many studies, grass roots, rather than grass clippings are the main cause of thatch. Contrary to popular belief, grasscycling does not spread lawn disease. Lawn disease is prompted by improper watering and fertilizing and will be present regardless of whether you decide to grasscycle.

For years, many parks and golf courses have reaped the benefits of grasscycling. If you’d like to enjoy some of the perks of this innovative process, get your lawn mower out and get to work!