Mulching Grass

Improve the health and appearance of your lawn by mulching.

Keeping your lawn green and attractive can confound the most determined homeowner. One solution is to use mulch. Many types of materials are useful as mulch, ranging from sawdust to landscape fabric. For lawns, it’s a matter of taking the grass catching mechanism off your lawnmower and allowing the cut grass to remain on the area.

Things You'll Need

• Lawnmower
• Rake

Instructions

1. Remove the grass catcher from your lawnmower. (See Tips.)

2. Mow the outer edge of your lawn first and then mow in a circular pattern toward the center of your lawn area. This practice will reduce the amount of raking you must do to evenly distribute the clippings.

3. Purchase a mulching mower, which cuts your grass and serves as a vacuum that fans the clippings back inside for further cutting. Air pressure will later cause the clippings to fall to the ground.

4. Allow your lawn to dry before using a mulching mower and mow it soon after your last traditional mowing. Set the cutting height at about 2 inches on your mulching mower, which is generally higher than recommended for a mower that bags the grass.

5. Fertilize and water your mulched lawn less frequently than you would fertilize a lawn that you do not mulch: the nitrogen content of the clippings is high, and it is released slowly. As the clippings decompose, they add humus to the soil, which helps to retain water.

Tips & Warnings

• If your current mower doesn't have a trap door over the end where it discharges cut grass, a lawnmower service shop can install one for you. Or perhaps you will decide to skip the trap door. Your mower will discharge grass mulch, but you might need to rake your lawn after you finish mowing to evenly distribute the clippings.

• Other materials can serve as lawn mulch. Included are straw that comes from wheat, barley and oats. However, grass clippings generally look better and are higher in nitrogen.

• Mulching your lawn in summer can help to retain water.

References

• Earth 911: How to Mulch Grass Clippings
• My Lawn Care Secrets: Mulching Your Lawn