Grasscycling is leaving grass clippings on the lawn to decompose. Grass clippings are mostly water. When you mow regularly, clippings quickly decompose and release nutrients to fertilize the lawn.
Why Grasscycle?
It reduces yard waste by 20% - 40% or more.
It saves the time, trouble, and expense of bagging or putting clippings in cans.
It saves gas and energy required to transport and process grass clippings.
It reduces the need for fertilizer. Research shows that when you leave grass clippings on the lawn, you need as much as one third less fertilizer to achieve the same color and grass density found on lawns where the clippings are removed.
It reduces the demand for water.
It provides moisture and nutrients to the soil and cushioning layers to reduce wear.
Getting Started
Just let your grass clipping from your mower or mulching mower lie where they fall. Remember, you only want to remove about 1/3 of the grass blade when you mow. With Kentucky bluegrass and fescue a final turf height of 2 inches is usually recommended. This means mowing off about 1 inch when the grass gets to be 3 inches in overall height. Thatch is not caused by letting grass clippings fall to the lawn, at least when the lawn is mowed on a regular basis. The young grass clippings are over 90% water, and they decompose rapidly (UW Extension InfoSource).
University of Minnesota (U of M) studies show the reduced need for nitrogen fertilization of turf when leaving grass clippings on the lawn. Table 13 shows nitrogen recommendations for established lawns and Table 14 recommends the best time to apply any fertilizer still needed. Both tables are from the Established Lawns and Turf section of the Soil Test Interpretations and Fertilizer Management for Lawns, Turf, Gardens, and Landscape Plants document on the U of M website. (http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/components/1731-22.html)
More Grasscycling Information:
Below are some links to more information on leaving grass clipping in place.
