annie, was it one of these? (see link below)

I managed to get on top of my nutgrass by mostly smothering it with newspaper. It had completely taken over two garden beds, it was like a big grassy blanket it was so thick, and I tried pulling it out but it grew back faster than I could keep up! then I put down a thick layer of newspaper on top, folding the newspaper to fit it in between plants and put mulch on top. then I waited and as soon as I saw any green sprouts coming through the gaps, Id pull it out, and after a little while it just gave up. depending on how big the area is that it covers, the smothering definitely slows it down but you really need to be vigilant with the follow up and not let it get started again.

Here is a link that might be useful: weed killers

damn, I posted this under the wrong topic! I was answering your other post! :)

Hi Annie,
A couple of reasons.
1. If your grass has any seed heads you could end up with a bed of grass.
2. If you lay it too thick, it sort of forms a mat that doesn't rot and can become impervious to water.
If it doesn't have seeds you can sprinkle it lightly and it will rot down.
Cheers,
Dee.

Plus it builds up too much heat. Bung it in the compost. PS you have GRASS???

Its also adds too much nitrogen to the soil
And because it builds up heat those lovely worms will go to cooler places.
I am thinking of framing our lawnmowers they never feel any grass clippings anymore.
Lucky you ....MM

g'day annie,

yup full of sorts of seeds and not only the ones in your lawn also seeds dropped by birds and other critters or blow in's could be there as well. best place for the lawn clipping in these dry times especially is on the lawn take the catcher off. benefits all that free fertilising and soil improving als hhelps cut down on grass grub rates they love those man made high nitrogen fertilisers.

so set the height of the mower up can't be shaving the bowling green type lawn for this enviromentaly friendly procedure (lawns are the most resource wasteful action we have in our gardens), good if you can cut at least 2"s high at least. also there are mowers made for mulching and others that have addons.

len

Well, yes, I do have grass (hangs head in shame) but...but....haven't you all been getting some rain lately?
We've been getting some showers....truly.
Annie

Yes of course we got some rain a whole 5mm so far this April.
Sadly that didnt even wash the dust away.
MM.

wow mm,

where abouts are you in brissy? we've managed just over 42mm for the month and i wouldn't let bev mow until i was sure we had a drop more coming.

yep annie,

we mow but like i say only when we are sure of some rain and we leave the clip on the ground as we have done for the past around 15 years.

len

Len I live about 35 kms south of brissie about half way between there and the Gold Coast across the road is the Logan River

Plenty of clouds up there Len they just didnt open on my back yard, back neighbour mows lawns up the north coast he said they had to stop work twice lately as too wet to mow, sure wish we had that problem....MM

Annie,

Here's my perspective on the topic - ands it's something I have been thinking about quite a lot lately - especially after seeing Peter Cundle carrying on about it on GA a few weeks ago.

I used to religously compost all grass clippings. We haven't got a huge lawn but we have got one (I'm not ashamed to say) which is a godsend because we also have three little kids. It is never watered and only cut as required.

As for the clippings - for the last couple of years I have done nothing with them but spread them THINLY (no more than 2 inches at a time) as a mulch around vegies in the vegie patch. This way they quickly dry out (and remain pervious to water) and yet they have a highly beneficial mulching effect - ie they keep the weeds down and reduce evaporation from the soil. After a few weeks (if I have more clippings) then I spread them on top of the first lot (which is now much thinner) - again in a THIN layer. I have never had a problem with grass seeds - this of course could be a function of the lawn type. The biggest advantage is I do not spend considerable time and effort turning my compost of grass to ensure that it composts properly, nor in travelling from the mower to the compost and then back to the garden when it has finally composted.

I recommend you try it.

Just to explode a few myths:

Grass clippings DO NOT have too much carbon or nitrogen in them (in fact their C:N ratio is almost perfect), and

Grass clippings WILL NOT become an impervious mat as long as they are applied in thin layers

Grass clippings will also NOT generate damaging heat if they are spread thinly

When I pull old vegies out I find that the grass underneath has rotted nicely and there is a thin layer of dry grass on top. This all gets dug in before I plant the next crop (of seedlings or seeds.

Happy Gardening, Puck

My Hubbie is making beautiful compost out of lawn clippings cow manure, autumn leaves, & veggie scraps it comes out wonderful no grass seeds
Jan.

g'day mm,

yeh the sunshine coast area surely gets it's share of rain well that's the rain belt they are in of course, they've been getting heaps lately we got another 16 or so the other day.

ah the good old logan river we used to fish there a lot but that was in the good old days before development and loss of mangrove habitat and ultimately loss of fish potential.

anyhow back the grass thing the lack of rain from my stance would make it more imperative that you leave the clip on the ground and cut on a much higher cut even 3"s if you can get that high. oh and another mowing tip no matter how stragly the lawn try not to mow unless there is going to be some rain or it has rained and follow up rain is coming. when you mow you lose moisture from the ground.

len