Grasscycling is a method of handling

grass Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos and the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivated in lawns a ...

clippings by leaving them to decompose on the

lawn A lawn is an area of soil-covered land planted with grasses and other durable plants such as clover which are maintained at a short height with a lawnmower (or sometimes grazing animals) and used for aesthetic and recreational purposes. ...

when

mowing A mower is a person or machine that cuts (mows) grass or other plants that grow on the ground. Usually mowing is distinguished from reaping, which uses similar implements, but is the traditional term for harvesting grain crops, e.g. with reape ...

. The term combines "grass" and "recycling", and had come into use by at least 1990, as part of the push to reduce the huge quantities of clippings going into landfills, up to half of some cities' summertime waste flow, as 1,000 square feet (93 m²) of lawn can produce 200 to 500 pounds (90 to 225 kg) of clippings a year. Because grass consists largely of water (80% or more), contains little lignin, and has high

nitrogen Nitrogen is the chemical element with the symbol N and atomic number 7. Nitrogen is a nonmetal and the lightest member of group 15 of the periodic table, often called the pnictogens. It is a common element in the universe, estimated at se ...

content, grass clippings easily break down during an aerobic process (comparable to composting) and returns the decomposed clippings to the soil within one to two weeks, acting primarily as a

fertilizer A fertilizer (American English) or fertiliser (British English; see spelling differences) is any material of natural or synthetic origin that is applied to soil or to plant tissues to supply plant nutrients. Fertilizers may be distinct from ...

supplement and, to a much smaller degree, a

mulch A mulch is a layer of material applied to the surface of soil. Reasons for applying mulch include conservation of soil moisture, improving fertility and health of the soil, reducing weed growth and enhancing the visual appeal of the area. A mu ...

. Grass cycling can provide 15 to 20% or more of a lawn's yearly nitrogen requirements. Proponents also note that grasscycling reduces the use of plastic bags for collecting yard waste and reduces trips to the curb or landfill to haul waste.

Techniques

Optimal grasscycle techniques include: * Cutting no more than 1/3 the length of the grass, this means when lawns are growing fast, mowing about twice a week. * Cutting when the grass is dry to the touch * Cutting when the height is between 3 and 4 inches (7 to 10 cm), once per week. * Ensuring that the mower blade is sharp Although a mulching mower can make grass clippings smaller, one is not necessary for grasscycling.

References

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External links

What Is Grasscycling?Natural Grass Killers
Lawn care Grasses Organic gardening Soil improvers Recycling Composting

Techniques

See also

References

External links