It is usual to get tired of throwing away the grass clippings after mowing your lawn. This might seem like a small thing to you. But doing so literally results in the waste of valuable resources. However, you may consider bagging grass clippings to avoid such damage.
Bagging can have multiple benefits for your lawn, grass, and even your environment. It helps you improve soil health and reduce waste, among other things. So, continue reading to learn why bagging grass clippings is a win-win for everyone.
Why Should You Consider Bagging Grass Clippings?
Around 94% of Americans care about their lawns. They spend special time making their gardens and lawns beautiful. However, some people even hire a professional lawn expert to fulfill their needs accurately. [1]
They do so because there are infinite benefits to looking after their lawns. It would not be wrong to say caring for your lawn is one of the important tasks you can’t ignore. This caring period involves mowing at the top. You have to mow grass frequently.
However, this action leaves some grass clippings on your turf. What you do with them greatly affects the health of the soil. For instance, some people bag grass clippings. However, some will leave the clippings on the lawn.
Today, we will tell you why bagging grass clippings can be a good option for your yard. Let’s consider the five major benefits of bagging grass clippings.
1. Keep your Lawn Clean and Tidy
First, bagging grass clippings helps clean your lawn. But grass tends to grow faster, especially during spring and after rain. Leaving grass clippings on the lawn during this time will block sunlight from the soil. The grass underneath will not be able to get enough light and hence start growing unevenly.
Your lawn will start looking ugly, mostly when the clippings are longer or wet. However, bagging your grass clippings will remove all the mess, allowing sunlight to reach all parts of the lawn equally.
2. Reduces the Spread of Weeds
Has your lawn for weeds, especially the invasive ones, Dandelions, Crabgrass Clover?[2]
If yes, then you should consider bagging grass clippings. It is even more recommended if there are unusual weed seeds in your lawn. Not removing clippings will allow those seeds to grow and make your lawn dirty. Thus, bagging can be the simplest yet most effective way of preventing weeds from overtaking your yard.
3. Prevents Lawn Diseases
Lawn diseases are the culprits of your lawn’s unhealthy appearance, especially in rainy and humid climates.[3] If you don’t remove grass clippings, they will absorb moisture, allowing fungi, molds, and other organisms to grow on the grass.
Wet clippings also lead to brown patches, moldy areas, and unusual surfaces. Therefore, you should bag grass clippings regularly to keep your lawn dry and free of germs or diseases.
4. Improves Lawn Health and Growth
Some people believe leaving grass clippings on the lawn acts as a natural fertilizer.[4] This is true under certain conditions. If the clippings are too thick or wet, thatch will build up.
It ultimately prevents the access of light, air, water, and nutrients to the soil. In this case, the grass will start dying. But you don’t need to worry when you can bag grass to eliminate such risks and allow the soil to absorb the nutrients more efficiently.
5. Great for Composting
Bagging grass clippings does not mean you need to throw them away. Because they are rich in nitrogen, you can use them as part of your composting pile. [5]
It is one of the best ways to get natural, free fertilizers. However, to get a balanced compost, you should add other organic matter, such as kitchen scraps or dried leaves.
Conclusion: Why Bagging Grass Clippings is A Smart Choice?
In the end, bagging grass clippings has many benefits for the health and appearance of your lawn. Its biggest benefit is helping you get rid of the sticking weeds. However, it most importantly improves the aesthetics of your garden.
There might be some time when leaving the grass clippings on the lawn is profitable. It will help recycle nutrients back into the soil. But bagging grass clippings is often the best option for those looking to get a cleaner and prettier yard. So next time, don’t forget to bag those clippings to get a better outdoor space. If you can’t do it yourself, get professional help from Real Green Turf to get the work done efficiently within your budget.
FAQs
- Should you bag your grass clippings in the spring?
Yes, you should bag your grass clippings in spring. The reason is that the soil is still cold in the spring season. Also, the microorganisms that break down the grass clippings may not be very active during this period. This condition will suffocate the soil and create a mat on it. Therefore, bagging and then composting or mulching clippings can be a good option in spring.
- Which is better for mulching or bagging grass clippings for my lawn?
Mulching and bagging both have pros and cons. However, mulching would be the best option if you want to save time and energy on fertilizers. Mulching the clippings will provide nutrients back to the oil. However, if the grass is long and there are weeds, then bagging is an excellent option.
- Does bagging prevent thatch?
Yes, bagging can prevent thatch. Thatch is a layer of dead and decaying organic matter on your lawn. Leaving grass clippings there will build up thatch. But bagging these clippings will remove the organic matter. Doing so will provide you with thatch-free grass.
- Are lawn clippings healthy to leave on your lawn?
Lawn clippings are a good source of high-quality nutrients, especially nitrogen. It also prevents water and surface contamination. You don’t need to spend extra on fertilizers as you already have plenty of them in the form of clippings. Therefore, you can leave clippings on your lawn to improve the health of the turf.
- Does bagging grass prevent fungus?
Some short grass clippings are very prone to getting moistened, which can lead to other serious plant diseases. However, bagging grass can prevent this unhealthy situation by removing bacteria and fungi from that area. [6]
- Does bagging reduce weeds?
Yes, bagging grass clippings reduces weeds. These weeds might even contain seeds. So, you can consider bagging to control the germination of any irrelevant seed in your lawn.
References
[1]https://www.yourgreenpal.com/blog/survey-homeowners-weekly-lawn-care-hours
[2]https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/gardening/outdoor/common-lawn-weeds
[3]https://portal.ct.gov/caes/fact-sheets/plant-pathology/common-diseases-and-problems-of-home-lawns
[4]https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-are-natural-fertilizers-examples-lesson-quiz.html
[5]https://blog.davey.com/best-way-to-get-rid-of-grass-clippings-compost-here-s-how/
[6]https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-plant-diseases-2033263