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Florida Gardening

Lawn clippings, to bag or not to bag?

14 years ago

I don't generally bag, unless I am mowing right around the pool. We were discussing this at work this morning and now I am not sure if I should or not? I have always left my clippings and it seems to have worked wonders over the years in my yard. Everyone else rakes and bags. I think it's a waste of time and nutrients. What say you wise folks. (the other argument is that surely the clippings kill the grass, I don't have st. augustine so maybe that is especially vulnerable?)

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Comments (10)

gatormomx2
14 years ago
Do not bag . Clippings decompose quickly and add much needed organic matter and nutrients to your soil and lawn .

If you were my neighbor I would gladly take away your bagged clippings . They are like gold on my compost piles . In a very short time , grass clippings become rich dark soil when mixed with leaves and/or shredded paper .
katieauthier
14 years ago
Another vote for no bagging green gold!

Katie
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laura1
14 years ago
No bagging!
My mower is a self mulching type and even when the grass has been VERY high it left very little in the way of clumps or clods of grass.
My soil needs every bit of help it can get!
Geez ya don't want to put the clippings in a landfill or let local gov. use your "gold" to make compost to re-sell to YOU.
katkin_gw
14 years ago
We mow our Floratam as well,but have a bagger on the mower. I use the clippings in my veggie garden as mulch. After 14 years of doing this, the sand is now black soil with worms. :o) And no weeds in the veggie garden. I also cold compost lettuce and such. Just sprinkle it around and let rot.

I don't like the clippings in the lawn as the dog and I track them in the house and pool area.
JerryatTreeZoo
14 years ago
Ditto what everyone else said. I would not bag it unless it had a disease or was so thick that the mower did not mulch it up. In any case, never throw the clippings away! Put a door mat or boot brush at the back door to prevent tracking indoors.
annafl
14 years ago
I never bag. I only feed my lawn organically, so it needs all the nutrients it can get. Not only that, but I try to prune leafy things before I mow each time and mow these things into the lawn as well. More nutrients, and less to the landfill. Easier for me too.

Anna
susieq07
14 years ago
Put mulcher blades on your mower, then forget about it!! LOL
cjc45
14 years ago
I kind of miss the mowers with the bag for the clippings. The clippings were great in the compost bin because they filled in the places between the larger pieces and made the compost hotter and therefore faster. Now, I rake only if the clippings leave a thick pile or mat. Well, I don't actually rake, I just pick it up.
teka2rjleffel
14 years ago
All of the trees are in back where there is no lawn (patio, pool, deck and garden, no grass.) Will they break down faster if I bag them rather than just putting them on the garden beds? Thanks.
Nancy
linchat
14 years ago
Mulch it, bagging is a big pain, a the clippings are great for your lawn. Some say that you can spread weeds through not bagging.. But a healthy thick lawn, competes just fine with weeds.

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