Grass clippings as mulch or compost?
limpiefoot
15 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (13)
digdirt2
15 years agoRelated Discussions
Grass Clippings under my Newspaper Mulch
Comments (4)I agree. I use no chemicals on my lawn, so the clippings are great on the veggie garden. Everytime I mow, I bag, and the clippings go on the garden. In fall all the leaves get shredded with the mower and put on the garden beds, at least a foot thick. By spring they are well down, and by planting time broken down into nice crumbly leaf mold. I have switched to a no till format for the past several years and it seems to have helped. I don't have nearly the weeds I used to, the seeds seem to stay dormant when they are buried, but once you till, up they come! Add all the organics you can whenever you can! Steve...See MoreCan I use grass clippings as mulch for fruit trees?
Comments (16)grass (fresh) can and does mat into a giant plug of garbage. the nitrogen load can be an issue (Harbin you're part right, but when do you put a half-pound of fertilizer on the ground? one can easily add that much or more dried weight grass, so the excess N2 can be an issue.... that said, if you put it on green and wet my main issue has been that it can form this giant, stinky plug nothing else gets past--as mentioned, rain sloughs off it. Nothing grows through it, and things in the middle can be over-fed or suffocated by it. Grass can mulch, but too much can be a disaster. Drying it is the best solution I've seen thus far....See MoreInorganic grass clippings as mulch?
Comments (3)"Inorganic" was probably the wrong term and should have been non organic. The usual time after a lawn is dosed with synthetic fertilizers and/or "weed" killers to wait before using them in the garden is two cuttings. The synthetic fertilizers, while not good for the Soil Food Web, are not really going to do much harm and the "weed" killers will have been washed off the grass blades by then, usually. However, there are some of those "weed" killers that are very persistent and can do serious harm even a year after application so it may be a good idea to know what was used on that lawn....See MoreGrass Clippings As Veggie Garden Mulch?
Comments (10)Therealdeal, The spinning blade of your power mower is a little bit like a carpet vacuum cleaner and will by the mower vibration, loosen and suck up any loose seeds that were blown around by the wind on windy days and deposited atop your grass roots. Now you have a mixture of clippings and wind blown wild seeds that you are now using as compost, but a true compost pile would heat up and kill those seeds. If you are going to use grass clippings make sure it is composted on a 'hot' compost pile or else you will have weeds galore where ever your 'cold' clippings are used as compost or mulch. Lou...See Moredigdirt2
15 years agorobertz6
15 years agotclynx
15 years agoadirondackgardener
15 years agognomey
15 years agoKimmsr
15 years agojoepyeweed
15 years agomulchmamma
15 years agocali1023
15 years agoschoolhouse_gw
15 years agoadirondackgardener
15 years ago
Related Stories
GARDENING GUIDESNew Ways to Think About All That Mulch in the Garden
Before you go making a mountain out of a mulch hill, learn the facts about what your plants and soil really want
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESHow to Pick a Mulch — and Why Your Soil Wants It
There's more to topdressing than shredded wood. Learn about mulch types, costs and design considerations here
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGet on a Composting Kick (Hello, Free Fertilizer!)
Quit shelling out for pricey substitutes that aren’t even as good. Here’s how to give your soil the best while lightening your trash load
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDES5 Things to Know About Weeding and Mulching Your Native Garden
What’s the best time to pull weeds? How thick should the mulch be? Here’s the scoop for a healthy landscape
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESThe Art of Green Mulch
You can design a natural garden that doesn’t rely on covering your soil with wood and bark mulch
Full StoryINSPIRING GARDENSInside Houzz: A Waterfront Property Ditches the Grass for a Garden
New drought-tolerant plantings and outdoor gathering spaces help this California backyard take in the view without wasting space or water
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNIs It Time to Consider Fake Grass?
With more realistic-looking options than ever, synthetic turf can be a boon. Find the benefits and an installation how-to here
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGarden Myths to Debunk as You Dig This Fall and Rest Over Winter
Termites hate wood mulch, don’t amend soil for trees, avoid gravel in planters — and more nuggets of garden wisdom
Full StoryMOST POPULARMeet a Lawn Alternative That Works Wonders
Carex can replace turfgrass in any spot, is low maintenance and adjusts easily. Add its good looks and you’ve got a ground cover winner
Full StoryGRASSESHow to Rock a Lawn
Weekend Project: The key to healthy grass begins with the soil. If turf works for you, here’s how to fix it and keep it looking its best
Full StoryZanesville's Most Skilled & Knowledgeable Home Improvement Specialists
macky77