If you’ve just mowed your lawn, you may be left wondering what to do with your grass clippings? Should you leave them, bag them or try mulching them? There’s actually multiple different ways you can use your clippings to benefit your lawn, from adding essential nutrients to preventing weeds. We explain various methods of handling your grass clippings and how they can make a difference to the health and longevity of your lawn.

Use as mulch

You can use your leftover grass clippings as mulch for your lawn as well as other trees and plants on your property. Using the leftover clippings for mulch is ideal as it recycles the green waste back into the environment while also benefiting your garden. Mulch works to help your plants retain moisture, suppress the growth of weeds, and add nutrients such as nitrogen and potassium which are found within grass clippings.

You can use fresh or dried grass clippings as mulch, but it’s best to stay away from wet clippings as they are difficult to handle and tend to form in slimy clumps. When applying your clipping mulch, start with a lighter hand. Your mulch should be only ¼ inch thick so it can break down easily without smelling bad or clump.

Add to your compost

Grass clippings can be disposed of in your compost bin and should be considered as green material if fresh, and brown material if dried (a good compost needs a combination of green and brown material). To prevent your compost from becoming smelly and too compacted, make sure you turn or mix the grass clipping into the compost heap. You should regularly aerate your compost pile to give the microbes oxygen to help encourage break down.

Dispose of your clippings

If you don’t have a compost bin or don’t want to use your grass clippings as mulch, you can choose to responsibly dispose of them in the bin. Although it may depend upon your council, normally you are able to put your grass clippings in your normal food and waste bin. You can also dispose of your clippings in a designated organics bin or skip.

Leave on your lawn

One of the easiest ways to use your clippings to help your grass is to leave them on your lawn. Simply leave your clippings as is and let them break down naturally. However, ensure to spread the clippings out so they aren’t too bunched and your lawn can still access enough water, sun and oxygen to grow healthily.

Ask the experts

Need further assistance with your lawn clippings? The expert lawn care team at Jim’s Mowing can mow your lawn and then repurpose the clippings to ensure your lawn is thriving and growing. Get in touch with our friendly team today!