Grasscycling Tips
Many people treat their lawns like a "crop" - they over water and over fertilize their lawns to encourage excessive growth. The "harvested crop" (grass clippings) is then bagged and disposed. Proper mowing, watering, and fertilizing practices result in more moderate turf growth, yet still produce a healthy, green lawn. Grasscycling can be practiced on any healthy lawn as long as the following turf management guidelines are followed.
Cutting
- Do not cut more than 1/3 off the grass blade at one time - grass that is very long may require several cuttings to achieve the desirable height
- Cut your grass regularly and maintain the height of the lawn between 5 to 7 cm (2-3 inches)
- Grass that is cut too short can develop a burn-like appearance caused by factors such as underdeveloped root systems and soil moisture loss. Raising the mowing height in the summer encourages deeper roots and protects grass from drought and heat damage.
- Keep lawn mower blades sharp - use any type of lawn mower with a sharp blade (dull blades can shred grass and create a potential entry way for disease)
- Convert your lawnmower to a mulching mower by purchasing a mulching blade retrofit kit - mulching blades chop up grass many times, producing very short clippings. Refer to your lawnmower owner's manual or contact a local lawnmower dealer to learn if you can safely mulch with your existing mower. You may need to purchase a retrofit kit, and your mower dealer can assist you in selecting the correct one. Mulching or recycling mowers make grasscycling easy by cutting grass blades in to small pieces and forcing them into the soil. You may also want to consider purchasing an electric mulching mower to reduce air pollution.
- Cut once or twice a week before grass is too long. You may have to cut the lawn more frequently, or double cut, when the lawn is growing fast, such as in the spring, but much less when the turf is growing slowly.
- Mow grass when dry to prevent clumping
Watering
- Water deeply only once a week to prevent excessive growth (less frequent deep watering is more beneficial than frequent surface watering). Most grasses need about 2.5 cm (1 inch) of water every 5 to 7 days in the growing season and much less during slow growth months. Lawns watered too frequently tend to develop shallow root systems that may make them more susceptible to stress and disease.
- Deep, infrequent watering produces a deeper, extensive root system that enables turf to resist disease and stress. Over-watering not only is wasteful, it also causes lawns to grow faster and requires more mowing. The best time to water is early in the morning, as less water is lost due to evaporation. Try to avoid watering in the evening because prolonged damp conditions may encourage disease development.
- Check your irrigation systems regularly to avoid water runoff or over-spraying, especially if the lawn is on a slope. Look for broken, tilted, or clogged sprinkler heads, and adjust sprinkler heads to ensure even coverage. Remember to change your irrigation timer seasonally to match the water needs of the turf.
Grasscycling
- Remove lawnmower bag to spread clippings evenly over the lawn
- Request your lawn service companies to grasscycle