The Citizen, 2008-05-08, Page 14Clippings can be your lawn’s best friend
(MS) - While it might have been a
chore most would have liked to
avoid when they were kids or
teenagers, for adult lawncare
enthusiasts mowing the lawn can be
an enjoyable time.
Whether you’re a fan of ride-on
lawn mowers or you go with the
more traditional push mower, an
afternoon spent mowing the lawn
can be good exercise and a way to
catch a few rays.
Of course, once the job is done,
what to do with the grass clippings
can present a genuine problem.
Yard waste is actually a valuable
commodity, one that can help
homeowners save money if used
correctly.
HOW DO CLIPPINGS
BENEFIT A YARD?
When returned to the yard, grass
clippings can pay numerous
dividends. First and foremost, grass
clippings can help homeowners save
money on fertilizer. Clippings
contain valuable levels of nitrogen,
phosphorus and potassium, and can
help cut fertilizer needs by up to 25
per cent.
In addition, clippings work as a
food source for bacteria in the soil.
One of the things bacteria does is
decompose harmful and unsightly
thatch, improving the lawn’s health
and increasing its aesthetic appeal.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I
LEAVE?
If you’re going to be returning
clippings to your yard, you’ll need to
make adjustments to your mower
and your mowing schedule. While
some homeowners would like to set
their blades as low as possible to
reduce the number of times they’ll
have to mow the lawn, this is not
healthy for your yard.
Mow grass tall with a sharp blade
so that no more than one inch of
grass is removed each time the lawn
is cut. If you set the blades too low,
clippings will pile up and this will
damage the yard. Also, cutting grass
too low does not encourage root
growth and promotes inefficient use
of water.
When grass is cut at the correct
height, roots grow more extensively,
which helps make the yard more
resistant to drought.
During the season of rapid growth
(typically spring), you might need to
mow twice per week. While this
might sound like a chore, it won’t be
as hard as it sounds. That’s because
if a lawn is mowed properly at the
correct height, the job gets easier
and doesn’t take much time at all. As
the lawn begins to grow less rapidly,
you can return to the typical cutting
schedule.
HOW DOES A MULCHING
MOWER HELP?
Mulching mowers can be of
tremendous assistance to anyone
looking to get more out of their
clippings. A mulching mower works
by cutting clippings into smaller
pieces and dispersing them back into
the yard as you’re cutting the lawn.
Keeping the blades at a correct
height is essential when using a
mulching mower.
When its blades are set correctly, a
mulching mower will distribute
clippings more evenly than a
standard mower, essentially
eliminating the risk of spreading too
many clippings onto any one spot
and damaging the lawn as a result.
CAN CLIPPINGS BE USED
ELSEWHERE?
Clippings can be used as mulch
and in a compost pile. When using
clippings for either process,
however, be sure to mix in other
ingredients. Grass clippings, when
they’re not spread out over a lawn
but collected in a pile, will produce a
very foul odour.
However, when mixed with leaves
or wood chips, the odour will
dissipate.
Also, by mixing with wood chips
and leaves, you’re reducing the
thickness of the clippings, which
will allow more oxygen to get into
the soil.
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On the grow
Mowing at the correct height and using your clippings as
opposed to disposing of them can help your lawn look lush
and green. (MS photo)
PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2008.Spring Home and Garden