Why do we mulch grass? For years we have been conditioned to believe that grass clippings should be picked up. Let's explore that......
Many people will quickly recognize that we generally do not collect the lawn clippings. The reason we choose to mulch the grass clippings in the majority of our lawns is something that developed out of our own observations and the reality of our environment.
I, Emerson, remember my first lawn where I picked up grass. I was inexperienced and the grass was very long. I had an entire pickup load of grass from that one lawn! I remember thinking, "How will I ever get through my day if every lawn is like this?" Thankfully, every lawn was not like that. So the first problem was the extra time it took on my part to handle all the grass.
Secondly, I had to figure out what to do with all the grass. Some providers partner with farmers to dispose of clippings, which requires collecting and hauling clippings to the farm adding time and extra costs. However, even if you are able to provide the time and transport, there is a larger problematic element to this situation.
According to Lawn and Landscape magazine, in California alone, more than six million tons of clippings are disposed of through municipal waste programs. It is estimated those clippings contain nearly all the nitrogen necessary for healthy turf in the entire state. Think about that. Much of the nitrogen your lawn needs ends up at the dump or, at best, on a compost pile.
Fortunately, the mower companies have recognized this problem and decided to address it from the view of the mower itself. Today's mowers are not your grandpa's old lawn tractor. They do not just cut the grass. Today's mower is designed to perform at very high speeds and cut the grass multiple times before sending it back into the lawn itself. The clippings are small enough to allow them to fall through the grass to the top of the soil. This allows the clippings to decompose at the soil level adding nutritional value to the lawn.
Grass clippings can provide up to an estimated 40% of the nitrogen needed for your lawn. Mulching grass allows this natural fertilizer be applied to your lawn every time we mow. Nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are all added back into the lawn. Mulching also keeps moisture in the ground, conserving water by acting as a natural barrier to water evaporation. This works much like placing mulch on your beds, keeping the soil from drying out. These clippings also quickly break down to provide fertilizer. The smaller the grass clippings, the quicker they break down. Our mulching decks are designed for maximum performance of this process.
The soil remains healthier as well, due to the fact that healthy insects and microorganisms found in your soil can more easily digest the fine clippings provided for them. When you mulch, you give you these creatures food to thrive on, which in turn enriches your soil from the elements they release.
Our most satisfied customers are ones who understand this is a cyclical system that needs to work together with those who fertilize the lawn. A lawn can easily be over-fertilized and combined with the clippings we are putting back into the soil, the grass can grow too quickly, especially in the spring. Many people think when grass grows 6 inches in a week, this indicates good lawn health. In reality, the plant is undergoing significant stress to produce that much growth. It is best to balance fertilization and mulch/mowing so that only the top third of the blade needs cut at any one time.
We highly recommend that soil samples be taken to get an accurate picture of your lawns' health. Balanced nutrition is the key. Over-fertilizing can cause roots to seek the surface instead of going deeply into the soil. Organic programs work very well with mulching, conditioning the soil allowing the roots to naturally seek nutrients.
Overall, our goal is to ensure that your lawn looks great and is healthy. We are continually educating ourselves on the latest information and reports to achieve this goal.
Thanks to eX-markCorporation for some of the information in this article.
I, Emerson, remember my first lawn where I picked up grass. I was inexperienced and the grass was very long. I had an entire pickup load of grass from that one lawn! I remember thinking, "How will I ever get through my day if every lawn is like this?" Thankfully, every lawn was not like that. So the first problem was the extra time it took on my part to handle all the grass.
Secondly, I had to figure out what to do with all the grass. Some providers partner with farmers to dispose of clippings, which requires collecting and hauling clippings to the farm adding time and extra costs. However, even if you are able to provide the time and transport, there is a larger problematic element to this situation.
According to Lawn and Landscape magazine, in California alone, more than six million tons of clippings are disposed of through municipal waste programs. It is estimated those clippings contain nearly all the nitrogen necessary for healthy turf in the entire state. Think about that. Much of the nitrogen your lawn needs ends up at the dump or, at best, on a compost pile.
Fortunately, the mower companies have recognized this problem and decided to address it from the view of the mower itself. Today's mowers are not your grandpa's old lawn tractor. They do not just cut the grass. Today's mower is designed to perform at very high speeds and cut the grass multiple times before sending it back into the lawn itself. The clippings are small enough to allow them to fall through the grass to the top of the soil. This allows the clippings to decompose at the soil level adding nutritional value to the lawn.
Grass clippings can provide up to an estimated 40% of the nitrogen needed for your lawn. Mulching grass allows this natural fertilizer be applied to your lawn every time we mow. Nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are all added back into the lawn. Mulching also keeps moisture in the ground, conserving water by acting as a natural barrier to water evaporation. This works much like placing mulch on your beds, keeping the soil from drying out. These clippings also quickly break down to provide fertilizer. The smaller the grass clippings, the quicker they break down. Our mulching decks are designed for maximum performance of this process.
The soil remains healthier as well, due to the fact that healthy insects and microorganisms found in your soil can more easily digest the fine clippings provided for them. When you mulch, you give you these creatures food to thrive on, which in turn enriches your soil from the elements they release.
Our most satisfied customers are ones who understand this is a cyclical system that needs to work together with those who fertilize the lawn. A lawn can easily be over-fertilized and combined with the clippings we are putting back into the soil, the grass can grow too quickly, especially in the spring. Many people think when grass grows 6 inches in a week, this indicates good lawn health. In reality, the plant is undergoing significant stress to produce that much growth. It is best to balance fertilization and mulch/mowing so that only the top third of the blade needs cut at any one time.
We highly recommend that soil samples be taken to get an accurate picture of your lawns' health. Balanced nutrition is the key. Over-fertilizing can cause roots to seek the surface instead of going deeply into the soil. Organic programs work very well with mulching, conditioning the soil allowing the roots to naturally seek nutrients.
Overall, our goal is to ensure that your lawn looks great and is healthy. We are continually educating ourselves on the latest information and reports to achieve this goal.
Thanks to eX-markCorporation for some of the information in this article.
