Are You Making the Most of Your Grass Clippings?

Grass clippings – if you have a lawn, you can't avoid them. But did you know, grass clippings are actually one of the best fertilizers you can give your lawn? If you've got a question about grass clippings, the experts at Nutri-Lawn are sure to have the answer. Check out the following tips and advice on how to handle the most common by-product of Burlington lawn care.

Q. I've been throwing my grass clippings out as yard waste – is there a better way to dispose of them?
A. Why would you want to dispose of your lawn clippings! Lawn clippings are a great source of nutrients and an important part of any lawn care fertilization regiment. Leaving them on your lawn will help improve the look and health of your yard. Furthermore, grass clippings are not considered an acceptable form of yard waste by the Halton Public Works Department, and thus can be rejected at pick-up.

Q. If I'm going to leave clippings on my lawn, should I invest in one of those new mulching mowers to ensure the excess grass is finely chopped?
A. Mulching lawnmowers are great, but they aren't necessary. Instead of purchasing an expensive mower, the lawn care and automatic sprinkler system experts at Nutri-Lawn recommend simply raising and sharpening the blade on your current mower to ensure a cleaner cut.

Q. If I raise the blade on my mower, doesn't that mean I'll just have to cut my lawn more often?
A. No! In fact, it might actually take you less time to complete your mowing! Lawns that are mowed at the proper height (6 1/4 to 7 1/2 centimetres (2 1/2 to 3 inches) with a sharp blade actually mow faster and more efficient than if a mower with a lower, duller blade were used. And don't forget – if you're leaving the clippings on your lawn you won't have to spend time raking and bagging the clippings.

Q. Won't my lawn eventually become covered in grass clippings if I never gather them up?
A. Not at all. This is because grass clippings decompose quickly, provided you set your mower blade to cut at the proper height. The lawn care and automatic sprinkler system installers at Nutri-Lawn always advise clients to never cut more than one-third of the grass blade off during mowing. Cutting the grass any lower can cause significant damage to the structure of your grass plants, making them more susceptible to disease and sun damage.

Q. Is there ever a situation where I shouldn't leave me grass clippings on my yard?
A. Yes. The lawn care and inground sprinkler system experts at Nutri-Lawn recommend collecting your lawn clippings in the following situations:

  • If the grass is long or wet after you cut it. These types of clippings are more likely to clump and damage your lawn.
  • If your grass is diseased. Removing the infected clippings may help reduce the level of disease and could potentially prevent spores from spreading.
  • If your mower is unsafe to use without the bagger attached. Collect the clippings in your bagger and then redistribute them on your lawn using a rake.

Q. What if Nutri-Lawn has treated my lawn with a weed killer – should I collect my clippings then?
A. The lawn care and automatic sprinkler system installers at Nutri-Lawn still recommend leaving your grass clippings on your lawn, even after you've received one of our weed treatment. If the grass clippings are longer than usual, we recommend collecting them and putting them in a compost pile. A properly maintained compost pile can breakdown herbicide residues in as little as three weeks.

Want to learn more about the benefits of lawn clippings? Then contact the lawn care and inground sprinkler system experts at Nutri-Lawn to schedule a free personal consultation.