Do grass clippings left on a lawn contribute to thatch build-up? Is this thatch harmful to a lawn?
With the summer weather comes some inevitable lawn and garden work. For many homeowners, this means cutting the grass. As I watch my neighbors participate in this summer ritual, I’ve noticed there is little consensus around grass clippings. Do you leave them on the lawn, or do you collect them for your compost pile? Do grass clippings contribute to thatch build up? Does this thatch attract harmful insects?
What do you do with your lawn? Please help us answer this hot summer question!
We always leave it on the lawn after cutting. I find the grass stays moist and green. We havent had to water and our grass is very green
It sounds like you have all found a method that works for you – composting some, mulching all, grasscycling, or composting all your clippings. Thanks for sharing your tips and testimonials Adam, Maureen, Terry and Char!
I have mulch and half bag for the first cut of the season then mulch the rest of the summer. If my composting needs more greens, which is rare, I will bag a bit of the grass clippings. The lawn stays green, even in this heatwave we are experiencing now.
I always mulch except in the spring or if there are a lot of dandelion seeds. Mow your lawn long and mulch and you never have to water. Also have your lawn aerated every year the clay soil of Manitoba gets very compacted. Thatch has never been a problem.
I always save my grass clippings for the compost – because I want the nutrients for my vegetable garden rather than the lawn. I figure the less nutrients the lawn gets, the less it will grow and then I don’t have to cut it as much. Speaking of which – I just bought a cordless lawn mower – my yard is 100feet wide by a few hundred feet deep – so using a corded mower requires 150feet of cord. The cordless mower cuts for about an hour on a charge – so it is long enough for me to cut my entire yard.
I like your thinking, Maureen! I don’t like to cut my grass very often, either :).
I always mulch my grass and leave the clippings on the lawn, even mowing over leaves in the fall. I have been doing this for years and have never had a problem. In fact, during the hot days of summer my lawn is greener that that of my neighbours who mow their grass shorter and bag the clippings.
Not only is mulching less work, I find it makes a lawn more drought-resistant by retaining more moisture!