Are you tired of filling your yard waste container with grass clippings, seeing the loads of green waste disappear each week, knowing that you will be purchasing fertilizer or mulch for your garden come spring? Don’t you wish that there was something useful you could do with all that “trash”?

Well there is. Consider Grasscycling

What is Grasscycling?

Grasscycling is a simple opportunity for every yard owner to do something positive for the environment, saving time and money in the process. It is the practice of leaving grass clipping on your lawn, or using them as mulch.

With over 80% water content, clippings decompose quickly and release nitrogen and other nutrients back into the lawn and soil naturally. Clippings add water-saving mulch and encourage natural soil aeration by earthworms. Clippings contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium; all are rapidly broken down and returned to the lawn.

By Grasscycling up to 50% of your lawns’ fertilizer needs are met, so you save money. It also reduces the need for pesticides and herbicides, further saving you money.

You don’t need a special mower to do this, simply keep your mower blade sharp and mow when grass is dry. The Bosch Rotak series of mowers would suit perfectly for any lawn. If you are looking for a lightweight, electric option, consider one in the Bosch line.

Leave your grass box on to collect clippings for a particular area, or leave it off to let the clippings remain on your lawn. As opposed to the common myth that grass clippings can smother your lawn, they actually replenish the soil and allow essential nutrients to re-enter your lawn.

Leaving the clippings where they fall saves you valuable time. You don’t have to rake up your clippings or return to the yard waste bucket time and again to empty your grass box.

To ensure healthy clippings be sure to mow properly with a sharp blade, and at the correct height for your type of turf.

Another option for Grasscycling is to compost. If you haven’t considered starting a compost before, or are concerned about the work or smell, these concerns can easily be put to rest. Here are some tips on composting

Avoid putting in fats, pet droppings, or animal product. These will attract pests as well as cause your compost to unnecessarily smell ripe.
Newspaper is a great item to compost. Shred it and add it to the pile to increase aeration.
Throw in coffee grounds! Worms love it and worms assist with decomposition.
Sparingly add ash as this can adversely affect the pH level of your compost.
Place compost in black plastic and in direct sunlight for optimal break down during winter months. Use hay bales to further insulate the pile and provide the carbon component of the nutrients.

As you can see, composting is easy and good for the environment, it doesn’t take much to set one up, and once you do you will be pleased with the dense, rich soil you will soon garner from your efforts.