BOOST grass health by leaving lawn clippings

Did you know a lawn without grass clippings needs more nutrients than one with clippings left on it?

Why leave grass clippings on your lawn

Leaving lawn clippings on your lawn can provide half of the nitrogen your lawn needs each year. By hauling away your grass clippings, you’re depriving your lawn of a natural fertilizer that can make your grass more disease and drought-tolerant. Besides, raking, bagging, and disposing of your grass clippings is a lot of unnecessary extra work and expense. Each year, a half-acre of lawn produces more than three tons of lawn clippings, nearly 260 bags. That’s a lot of bags!

Mowing tips

Cutting the lawn with a lawn mower set at a proper mowing height is essential – it stimulates growth and increases thickness. Mow when your grass is dry, and never cut it shorter than 4-4½ inches or remove more than one-third of the leaf surface at any one mowing. 

We mow lawns to keep them neat and allow light to reach the leaf blades. Plants make their own food through photosynthesis, which occurs in the leaves. The longer the blade, the more leaf surface for photosynthesis, the more food made, the longer the root system, the greater the ability to reach water and nutrients, and the healthier the plant. Taller grasses create deeper roots, improving water infiltration and reducing runoff. Taller grass will also stay greener during droughts and require less frequent mowing.

When grass is cut too low, photosynthesis is decreased, and the crown (or growing point) may be injured.  Cutting your lawn too short can lead to weaker plants and lawn thinning. As it becomes less dense, it’s less able to compete with weeds. This is especially important during the summer because severe scalping can lead to irregular patches of the lawn dying.