GrassCycling
With local landfill capacity shrinking every day, it's time to look for new ways to deal with old habits. We've all been doing our part to keep cans, bottles, plastics, and paper out of the trash and that's good. But there's more to be done...and it's called grasscycling.
Grasscycling is the natural process of recycling grass clippings simply by leaving them on the lawn after mowing. Clippings left on the lawn quickly decompose and release nutrients back into the soil. Aside from reducing what you throw out, grasscycling will save you time, effort and money.
You don't need special mowing equipment to grasscycle. Removing the collection bag on any standard mower allows the clippings to fall back onto the lawn. However, mulching mowers are available that cut grass into small pieces and force them into the soil
Rake heavy leaf cover from lawn before mowing
Cut grass when it's dry, on a day when the lawn was not watered.
Cut grass regularly, every 5-7 days in fast growing months(spring and sumemr) and
every 7-10 days in slow growing months (fall and winter)
Clipping length is important. If the grass grows too high between
mowings, you'll end up with long clippings that may "choke" the lawn
Keep your lawnmower blades sharp
Grass clippings are at least 85% water and when left on the lawn they break down immediately. The clippings turn into something called humus, which among other things, allows the soil to hold more water, that means you'll use less of it and that's good too.
Healthy lawns need regular irriagion but many lawns are improperly watered. Water every 5-7 days in fast growing months and less in slow growing months. Thorough, infrequent watering produces a healthy root system. The best time to water is in the morning.
Grass clippings left on the lawn provide a good source of slow releasing fertilizer, high in nitrogen. Bagging you grass and tossing it out actually robs your lawn of a free natural fertilizer.
There is a common, yet incorrect belief, that grasscycling cause thatch. Thatch is a tightly packed layer of organic debreis that prevents water and air from reaching the soil. Thatch occurs as a result of improper maintenance, and not from grasscycling. The best way to prevent thatch is porperly watering, mowing, and weeding on a regular basis.
For further information:
Beverly Hills (310)285-2464
Culver City (310)280-5950
Long Beach (310) 570-2850
Los Angeles (213) 237-1444
1-800-773-CITY
Santa Monica(310) 458-8527
West Hollywood (310) 854-7404
This information was taken from a brochure produced jointly by the cities mentioned above.
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