Lawn clipping management

       January 1, 0000    1241

 

Lawn clippings are mainly grass leaves along with some stems that are cut by the lawn mower. Earlier clippings were bagged using rotary mowers. It was thought that they might aid thatch development. But this assumption is now disproved.

The Present

In summer period, 20-30% of residential wastes are made up of grass clippings. These enhance the cost of waste disposal and fills landfills with precious organic material. So it is made illegal to dispose lawn clippings. The lawn clippings must be left on the lawn. They act as a natural plant food. Compost when added enhances the biological activity to make the clippings work faster and for greater span of time to maintain a lush and green lawn. Screen the compost by spreaders or it can also be added in a random manner. The clippings are one third as strong as the chemical fertilizers and on an average they have half the nitrogen content. Some amount of nitrogen has to be added which aids in the decomposition process of clippings. This cuts down on the expense of fertilizer. In late autumn or start of winter, the lawn mower shreds the leaves and the shreds are laid around shrubs or trees. These leaves break down during winter and there are fewer residues to be raked in the spring. When left on the lawn they provide shade to the soil surface and decrease loss of moisture content caused by evaporation. Lawn clippings smaller than an inch in length decay quickly and are sieved down the soil surface. The addition of organic matter of clippings to the lawn improves the condition of the soil if it is sandy.

Collecting clippings

The average mowing time is decreased by 30% when clippings are not collected. Leaving clippings on the lawn is not advisable when certain leaf diseases are prevalent on the lawn and removing the clippings may decrease the spread of the disease. Also when the lawn is to be mowed when wet or the grass is very tall, clippings carpet and suffocate the grass. If it is unsafe to use the mower without the bag, the clippings may very well be sucked in. Larger clippings must be removed and cut down as they spoil the look of the lawn and choke the grass below them.


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