Should You Use Grass Clippings as Mulch?

by janet ashby

Using grass clippings for mulching is a long established practice, as clippings are organic and can be of benefit to any garden if correctly applied. But there are some points to consider before you use grass clippings in this way.

It's important for you to understand the purpose of mulching when you choose your mulch, because when used correctly it can conserve much-needed moisture from rain and other forms of watering. The key is to get mulch that doesn't mat and lose water; therefore, it needs to be loose and coarse so that water can get through it to the soil. To be most effective, mulch should be able to maintain a three-inch thickness with no matting. The best way to prevent the spread of weeds is to use a three-inch layer of mulch, which also acts as insulation by keeping soil warm in cold weather and cool in the hotter months. Ultimately, this protects the roots of the most shallowly rooted plants.

Organic mulch has a number of benefits, as it add nutrients to the soil when the organic material decays. It can also help to improve soil structure, because it allows various organisms to live that are essential for garden soil to thrive.

If your lawn is properly cared for, you shouldn't have any grass clippings, which are a common yard waste. In order for your clippings to be fine-textured enough to decompose where they lay, you should take care to mow your lawn at the proper height: 2 1/2 inches to 3 1/2 inches when the temperature is cool, and 1 1/2 inches to 2 1/2 inches during warm weather. You should also mow your lawn often and use a mulching blade, cutting only one-third of the blades' total height. If you leave these clippings in place and allow them to decompose, they'll eventually add nutrients back into your soil which will have numerous benefits for your grass. Up to 24 percent of the necessary nutrients for grass can be supplied by grass clippings alone, which contain roughly 4 percent nitrogen, 2 percent potassium, and 1 percent phosphorous.

One of the concerns about using grass clippings as mulch is the threat of insecticides, weed killers and other chemicals that have been used on your lawn in the three weeks prior to the time you need the clippings for mulch. Another problem with clippings is that they compact tightly and get soggy, making it more difficult for water to penetrate through and reach the soil. Moreover, grass clippings that are applied in thick layers will warm up as they decompose. This can damage the roots of some plants, alter the soil temperature and have a negative effect on plant growth, and contribute to the development of disease. If you're going to use grass clippings as mulch, first subject them to hot composting.

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