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Many homeowners face the question of whether to mow grass clippings or bag grass after mowing the lawn. Mulching, which involves using a mulch kit and mulch blade to cut grass clippings into small pieces, is usually the best option. Mulched clippings are a free fertilizer that returns nutrients to your lawn. By recycling those clippings, you’re also helping the environment by reducing the amount of yard waste that ends up in the local landfill.
While mulching may be the preferred method for mowing your lawn, putting a bagging attachment on your mower makes the most sense. Bagging is the best option when the grass is too tall for mulching or when you plan to use the clippings for compost. We sought help from landscaping designer and consultant Teresa Watkins A sustainable horticultural environment For guidance on when and when to bag mulch.
Mulching grass
When you mulching grass mowing the lawn The use of a is involved Green grass kit, which is a lawnmower attachment that prevents grass clippings from exiting the side discharge of your mowing deck. By trapping the clippings within the deck, the Mower blade Cuts each blade of grass multiple times instead of just once, producing finer clippings that break down more quickly in your lawn.
Benefits of Mulching Grass
- Free fertilizer: Mulched is grass clippings Good for your lawn. They are high in nitrogen, and as they break down on your lawn, they nourish the soil and feed the grass, reducing the amount of fertilizer you need to add. “Grass blades left on the lawn will decompose, providing nutrients to the soil that will benefit the turf in the future,” says Watkins.
- Moisture Retention: Lawn clippings also help protect the soil from the sun, which helps your lawn retain moisture so you don’t have to water it as much.
- Better for the environment: Since those clippings stay in your lawn, they don’t end up in local landfills where they can accumulate methane and create greenhouse gases that cause global warming.
Disadvantages of Mulching Grass
- It’s messy. Mulching Leaves lawn clippings on the grass, giving it a more messy look when you’re done. Also, if your lawn sees a lot of foot traffic, those clippings will end up on shoes and clothing.
- Makes weeds worse. If you have a lot of weeds in your lawn, mulching will spread the weed seeds, which will make the problem worse.
- Disease spread: If your lawn is plagued by disease or pests, mulching the clippings will only spread those problems around your lawn.
Bagging grass
Most walk-behind mowers include a bagging kit. As you cut, the blade sends the clippings from the deck into the collection bag. Once the bag is full, you remove it and put the clippings into a collection bag or bin for disposal.
Benefits of bagging grass clippings
- Cleaner appearance. When considering whether you should bag your grass clippings, consider that if you bag them, there won’t be grass clippings lying all over the yard when you finish your lawn, which gives it a cleaner look.
- Ideal for high-traffic lawns. If your lawn sees frequent foot traffic from pets and people, bagging is a good option because those grass clippings won’t end up on shoes and paws.
- Good for composting. Grass clippings make excellent “green” material for your compost bin. Bagging your clippings makes it easier to transport those clippings to your compost bin.
Disadvantages of bagging grass
- Bad for the environment. Collecting clippings to pick up trash means it ends up in your local landfill. When grass clippings pile up, they produce methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
- It takes more time. Bagging grass means you’ll need to stop periodically to empty the bag, which makes mowing your lawn more time-consuming and labor-intensive.
- High fertilization costs. Leaving grass clippings on your lawn adds important nitrogen and phosphorus to the soil. By removing the clippings, you will need to compensate by applying more fertilizer.
Tips for Mulching Grass Clippings
- Use the right tools. Properly mulching your lawn requires special mulching blades and a mulch kit that blocks the side discharge of your mower. Simply mowing your yard with a side discharge won’t do the trick because it won’t cut the clippings into small pieces that will quickly break down in your yard. If the clippings are too large, they will clump on top of the grass, choking your lawn. Note: Most modern mowers are equipped with 3-in-1 blades capable of mulching, bagging and side discharge, eliminating the need to install separate blades for each type of cutting.
- Cut often. Watkins says mulching works best when you’re following the one-third rule and removing grass about an inch at a time. “If you cut less often and cut longer blades, it takes longer to decompose and can cause problems,” she says.
Best Mulching Lawn Mower
Toro 21-inch Recycler Self-Propelled Gas Lawn Mower
Recycler There is a vent that keeps the clippings in the air so the blade can cut them several times before returning them to the lawn. Read the review.
Look at that
Photo: Lowe’s
Tips for bagging grass clippings
- Dry mow. wet grass Bagging can clog and clog the chute. Wait until the hay is completely dry before bagging it.
- Often empty. Don’t wait for your bag to be completely full before you empty it. Your mower has a hard time depositing clippings into the bag as it nears capacity, leaving some clippings on the lawn. Emptying a packed bag is also more difficult.
- Use a two-step process for tall grass. If your lawn is well worn due to mowing, trying to bag it will only stop your bagger. A good strategy is:
- Mow the lawn with a side discharge (you may need to add a side discharge attachment), allowing long clippings to sit on the lawn.
- Add your bagging attachment and get back on the lawn. Your mower will collect clippings from the yard without getting stuck.
When to bag and when to mulch
While mulching generally leads to a healthier lawn, it often makes sense to wear a bagging attachment. Here are some situations in which bagging might be the best option, and some eco-friendly arguments for keeping the clippings in place.
bag when:
- The grass is too long. If the grass has grown so long that you have to remove more than 1/3 of its length, bag it. Attempting to mulch an overgrown lawn will leave large clumps of clippings on your lawn that will suffocate the grass.
- You have a lot of weeds or diseases. If your lawn is overgrown with weeds or you are treating it for diseases or pests, bag it. “Baging clippings is important, especially when you have weeds that have gone to seed or insect issues,” says Watkins.
- You have a plate problem. If you’re dealing with too much thatch in your yard, mulching can make it worse. “Adding more organic material (extra grass blades) will only make the grass grow,” says Watkins. Keep the bag until you solve your plate problem.
- You’re entertaining in the yard. If you’re mowing your lawn before a barbecue or other backyard social gathering, bag it so your guests don’t have to wade through the grass clippings.
- You are planning to compost. If you plan to add those grass clippings to your compost bin or bag if you’re going to use them Mulch your garden.
Mulch when:
- You can follow the 1/3 rule. While you can follow the 1/3 rule and not remove an inch or so of length from the grass.
- You want a healthy lawn: Mulching returns nutrients to the soil through nitrogen-rich clippings, so it’s healthier for your lawn than bagging.
- You want to green: Mulching isn’t just good for your lawn, it’s also good for the environment by keeping grass clippings out of your local landfill.
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