Thread: To Mulch or Not To Mulch

When should you mulch or pick up the cuttings when moving your lawn? I think I tend to mulch too much ----


Justin

We've been in drought for a year or so now, so I mulch all the time, especially the garden beds, but also using the little doohicky attachment to the lawn mower.

However, just last week I managed to snap the handle off my mower. While it's been out getting fixed, I've been using the weedeater to mow the lawn - 3/4 of an acre with a line trimmer is no fun. And I've been picking up the clippings from that.

I'm no lawn expert by any stretch, but if you've got good rainfall and decent soil/lawn, I'd probably just pick up the clippings and use them for mulch around trees or shrubs or whatever...

James.

Depends on how long you go between mowing and how high you set your mower. Most folks cut too low, water too much, and fertilize too much.

For a well established lawn, I set my blades to 2 inches (5 cm); mow when the grass is at or just below 3 inches; and NEVER bag the cuttings. I do not fertilize and even during the current exceptional drought we've been having in the SE US, I do not water my lawn. With regard to mulching, I've heard it said that mulching will build thatch...BS, pure and simple. Clippings decompose very quickly and add right back into your lawn all of the nitrogen that (if you bag) you need to reapply using chemical fertilizers.

A watered, fertilized lawn will produce the vast majority of its feeder roots in the top 1/2 to 1 inch of the soil because that is where you're putting all of the things it needs. By not watering or fertilizing, your lawn will put its root system deep into the soil so that it can extract water and nutrients from the soil profile...depending on your local conditions that may be up to 4 feet deep! A healthy lawn will not be affected by most insects or diseases. Most lawn diseases are caused by overwatering (fungal problems such as brown spot or dollar spot) or by too much nitrogen (grubs). It is in the interest of landscape companies and fertilizer manufacturers for you to water and fertilize too much. Save yourself a bunch of labor and money. Wean your lawn off the water and nitrogen.

Just another data point,
Ed

I usually mow to three inches and cut at five. I don't water or fertilize either. My lawn does fine just letting the clippings set on top. I do get moles though lots of them. I heard they were a sign of possible grub infestation, is that true?

My pasture is allowed to grow to eight inches and get grazed down to about half then I rotate the animals off. This year its time to overseed though, I'm getting too many weeds in the mix.

I'll have to agree with Ed on this one. I have a "mulching mower" and I never fertilize or water my lawn, and I never ever bag the clippings or rake them. Nice and green, no brown patches or ohter problems. I have mine on a lower setting which is approx 2", and we still cut about once every 10 days (well, at the least the wife does while I am over here). Even when the cool weather starts we will still have to cut up until usually the end of October.

Originally Posted by Wildtim

I usually mow to three inches and cut at five. I don't water or fertilize either. My lawn does fine just letting the clippings set on top. I do get moles though lots of them. I heard they were a sign of possible grub infestation, is that true?

My pasture is allowed to grow to eight inches and get grazed down to about half then I rotate the animals off. This year its time to overseed though, I'm getting too many weeds in the mix.

Yep, the moles are feeding on grubs...used to be a product on the market called 'Milky Spore'. Great biological control for exotic grub infestations.

Do you not have to aerate the soil also with a fork or such implement? Is also not advised to sprinkle sifted soil back over the lawn after the last cut of the year?

I cut my small patch of grass to 2-3" and never let it get above 4". I have to say it's the dog p*** and s**** I have the trouble with

PuFF

Originally Posted by PuFFaH

Do you not have to aerate the soil also with a fork or such implement? Is also not advised to sprinkle sifted soil back over the lawn after the last cut of the year?

I cut my small patch of grass to 2-3" and never let it get above 4". I have to say it's the dog p*** and s**** I have the trouble with

PuFF

Ha - yes! Try hitting a doggy land mine with a line trimmer!

I've heard the aerate idea too. I've got too much lawn to even contemplate that though. My brother stuck 6 inch nails through a pair of thongs, put a bit of plywood over the top, and just walks around his yard in them...

James.

Hey James,

You had better describe our version of the thong, I can see all sorts of different mind pictures imagined by others, and thinking gees they're a weird lot those aussies.

Cheers
John

Originally Posted by johnmw1

Hey James,

You had better describe our version of the thong, I can see all sorts of different mind pictures imagined by others, and thinking gees they're a weird lot those aussies.

Cheers
John

Just re-read my post with that in mind John - sicko aussies walking around their back yard in skimpy undies with nails sticking out of them...

OK - thongs = flip-flops. (Sorry if I caused any confusion).

James.