What Should You Do With the Grass Clippings After Mowing?

When it comes to mowing your lawn in Kentucky, you might be wondering what to do with the grass clippings. Well, most of the time, it's better to leave them! After all, they are good for your turf because as they decompose, they return nutrients to the soil and mostly consist of water, so they help hydrate it and retain moisture better. Leaving the grass clippings is also more environmentally friendly since there will be less waste going to the landfill. The only time you should bag them is if your lawn has a disease; this ensures you don't spread it to other areas.

Grass clippings will return nutrients to your soil as they decompose.

One reason why leaving the grass clippings on your lawn after mowing is beneficial is that they provide valuable nutrients to your lawn. As these small pieces break down over time, they release essential elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium back into the soil. These nutrients play a crucial role in promoting healthy growth and development in your grass.

Nitrogen helps stimulate lush green foliage, while phosphorus promotes root establishment and overall plant strength. Potassium aids in improving drought tolerance and disease resistance. By allowing the grass clippings to remain on your lawn, you ensure that these vital nutrients are recycled naturally, reducing the need for additional fertilizers.

Moreover, grass clippings primarily consist of water, which means they contribute to keeping your lawn hydrated. When left on the ground, they act as a natural mulch layer, helping to retain moisture within the soil. This can be especially advantageous during hot summer months when maintaining adequate hydration becomes challenging. With improved moisture retention, your lawn remains healthier and more resilient against stressors like heat and dry conditions.

Leaving Grass Clippings Is More Environmentally Friendly Because There Will Be Less Waste Going to the Landfill

Another compelling reason to leave the grass clippings behind while mowing is their positive impact on the environment. Bagging up those clippings and sending them off to the landfill contributes to unnecessary waste accumulation. Instead, by letting them stay where they fall, you reduce the amount of organic material being disposed of improperly.

The Only Time You Should Bag Grass Clippings Is If Your Lawn Has a Disease

While leaving the grass clippings on your lawn offers numerous benefits, there is one exception: when dealing with diseased grass. In cases where your lawn shows signs of fungal infections or other diseases, it is advisable to remove the affected clippings promptly.

Bagging the clippings prevents spreading the infection further across your lawn. By removing the infected clippings, you reduce the risk of contaminating healthy areas of your lawn.

However, if your lawn is free from any diseases, leaving the grass clippings is still recommended. While you can choose to bag them even without an existing issue, doing so deprives your lawn of the many advantages they offer. Remember, those nutrient-rich clippings serve as a natural fertilizer, providing long-term nourishment to your grass.

Call us today to schedule our professional lawn mowing service!

If you want to keep your lawn neat and manicured throughout the growing season, we are here to help! At Turf Tenders, we offer a lawn mowing service that includes weekly visits from March until November to consistently maintain its pristine appearance. Not only that, but this service also comes with string-trimming, edging, and blowing debris off hard surfaces to give your yard a clean look. This service is available to property owners in Louisville, St. Matthews, Indian Hills, and nearby areas in Kentucky. Call us today at (502) 861-6637 to sign up for our top-notch lawn mowing service!