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Grasscycling - Easy Steps to a Low-Maintenance Lawn

Grass clippings make up a large percentage of the household waste produced each year. About 1,000 square feet of lawn in Pennsylvania can produce 200 to 500 pounds of clippings during the growing season.

A simple alternative to bagging grass clipping is "grasscycling." Simply leave clippings on your lawn where they break down in 7 to 14 days. The clippings act as top dressing fertilizer and help keep your lawn green and healthy.

Hints for practicing "grasscycling" in your backyard

• Mow often and cut less than 1/3 of the grass growth when mowing.
• Mow when conditions are dry and use a sharp mower blade.
• Don't let large clumps of grass clippings accumulate on the lawn.
• Avoid overuse of harsh chemicals and fertilizers.
• Water your lawn less frequently, but for longer periods of time.
• Mulching mowers that grind grass clippings can be used, but are not necessary.

Grass clippings also can be used as a surface mulch around vegetables or flowers to inhibit weed growth and retain soil moisture. Remember to keep clippings at least two inches away from young plants to avoid "burning" the new growth. Put grass clippings in your compost pile to add extra nutrients. To avoid odors, no more than one third of your composting pile should be made up of grass clippings.