Mowing a lawn can be a huge task, especially when you consider the time taken to rake the lawn and pick up all the clippings, too. However, it might pleasantly surprise you to know that most lawns are healthier when the clippings are left in situ, making the task of mowing your lawn not quite such an arduous one.
What can grass clippings do for your lawn?
There are many different nutrients within grass clippings left over from mowing, some of whichinclude potassium, nitrogen and phosphorous. These minerals break down into the soil as the clippings decompose, enabling grass roots to spread outward and strengthen. The nutrients also act as food for the microorganisms in the soil that eat the harmful thatch.
What is thatch and how can clippings help prevent it?
Commonly referred to as thatch, this is the layer of a lawn that is mainly dead turf tissue lying between the green grass above and the root system and soil below. If thatch becomes too dense and is more than ½ an inch thick, this can spell trouble for the health of your lawn, as it chokes it and can cause it to die from a lack of moisture and nutrients. Thatch can also play host to diseases and pests. So, if you’re planning to leave grass clippings on your lawn after you’ve mowed it, you’d be advised to remove the thatch first by using a vertical mower, garden rake or aerifier. This means that when you leave the clippings in situ, they’ll decompose more easily due to their contact with the soil.
What length should the grass clippings be?
When grass is cut to around an inch and a half in length, the clippings should fall between the grass blades and contact the soil; however, if you have too many clippings during the growing season, you might want to consider raking the excess and putting them on a compost pile or as mulch for your vegetable patch.
When should you remove clippings from your lawn?
If your grass was taller than usual when you last mowed it, then any clippings longer than an inch should probably be removed to prevent them from suffocating the grass underneath. The same can happen if you mow your lawn when it’s wet and leave the clippings, and if your lawn has any pests or diseases infesting it, then you could inadvertently spread them to other areas of your lawn through the clippings.
One way of ensuring that you always act in the best interests of your lawn, and keep it looking lush and healthy all year round, is to have a professional lawncare specialist attend to it regularly.
