Grass question

[jframe]

The kind you cut, not the kind you smoke. I've been mowing my Dad's yard this year, and bagging most of it. He has someone fertilize and spray his front yard, but not the back, because it's cost prohibitive based on the size. I push mow the front and use his old Murray rider for the back. Been bagging both for most of the year, but the push mower has mulching ability when the bagger isn't on it. My question is, is there a real benefit to bagging, other than if it gets too tall, which it NEVER does; he's picky about a nice yard. It just seems like I work myself to death bagging the back yard with that old riding mower. If there's a true benefit to doing it, I'll keep doing it, but what do y'all think? How many of you bag all your grass, even when it isn't too tall?

 

[Dashriprock]

Only time I ever bag is when I'm picking up leaves in the fall with the mower. Mulch every time, and I mow twice a week.

 

[lonejacklarry]

The real advantage to NOT bagging is that when you bag all of the nutrients in the grass are trashed instead of going back onto the lawn. That's a lot of money in fertilizer being wasted.

If you mow often enough to not cut more than a 1/3 of the lawn length, you will do fine, especially with a mulching mower. No, lawn clippings do not contribute to thatch. If you already have a thatch buildup, use a core aerator instead of the type that just pokes holes in the ground. Mulch your leaves, too.

 

[mkk41]

Yeah , I don't bag , I mulch. Just gotta go a bit slower if it gets high.

 

[tyusclan]

The real advantage to NOT bagging is that when you bag all of the nutrients in the grass are trashed instead of going back onto the lawn. That's a lot of money in fertilizer being wasted.

If you mow often enough to not cut more than a 1/3 of the lawn length, you will do fine, especially with a mulching mower. No, lawn clippings do not contribute to thatch. If you already have a thatch buildup, use a core aerator instead of the type that just pokes holes in the ground. Mulch your leaves, too.

Agree completely.

My son and I ran a lawn service for several years. We would not bag. If a potential customer requested it, we explained why it was much better for the lawn to mulch the clippings. Most accepted that, and we took them on. If they insisted that they wanted it bagged, we told them to get someone else.

And when you do mow and mulch, mow in a back and forth pattern, not around and around. Alter the direction each time. For instance, if you mow north and south one time, mow east and west the next. That distributes the clippings more evenly.

 

[joeintexas]

Same here, I mulch, easier on the back and better for the lawn.

 

[Hack]

Only time I ever bag is when I'm picking up leaves in the fall with the mower.

I also bag the first couple of times in the spring. Mostly to pick up leaves/twigs that came down over the winter.

 

[chief38]

Here on Long Island it's against the law to bag grass and throw it in the trash. We MUST mulch when cutting our lawns. Thankfully I have a Landscaper that uses a very high quality mower and his mulcher works quite well. You don't even see the clippings - that's how fine they are and it's free fertilizer.

 

[NCTexan]

Laws against bagging your lawn clippings? What will they think of next?

Limiting the size of your soft drinks?

(I know.... LI isn't NYC)

 

[carpriver]

I want to use goats to control the length of my grass, just think cut the grass, fertilize, and at the get milk too. But the wife says NOOOOOOOO.

 

[Rule3]

lonejack nailed it but only if you are mulching and as mentioned "trimming" the lawn no more than 1/3 the length.

A lot depends on where you live and the type of turf. Where I live the grass grows so fast this time of year its a every 3 to 4 days mowing. If it gets to long I will bag it during the summer, All the commercial guys wih big machines can still mulch it so fine you can not tell they mowed. A homeowner with a wimpy machine will leave big clogs and hedge rows which is not good.

 

[chud333]

I mulch all year and my yard really looks nice. You just can't let
it get too tall before each cutting. I also mulch the leaves until
the trees stop dropping them in the late fall.

Chuck

 

[DeadAye]

I want to use goats to control the length of my grass, just think cut the grass, fertilize, and at the get milk too. But the wife says NOOOOOOOO.

Maybe if you promise to get her some help for milking and mucking?

 

[timn8er]

I never bag;I'm too lazy so I just mulch. Another benefit of mulching, besides the free fertilizer, is that plastic bags full of grass cuttings don't end up in a landfill.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

mulch... and keep the blades sharp.

 

[gdnagle]

Only time I bag is if I want to use it as mulch around trees, has worked for me so far and keeps the grass away like bagged mulch and is cheaper.

 

[Rintimtin]

I am agreeing with everyone who mulches. Its better for your lawn, and the environment. Its easier, and will save money on fertilizer costs. You can still fertilize your yard because the clippings may lack certain nutrients your yard may need. You can always get a soil test done. Usually you can send it to an extension program provided by a near by college or univeristy. The soil test will tell you what your soil/grass is lacking and you can get fertilizer made just for what you need. If you don't have a local place you can find certain companys and do it by mail.

The big box stores are great for some things but using your local stores and extension programs is usually cheaper and can answer your questions so you don't waste money on stuff you don't need.

Buying fertilizer from big box stores is expensive and you mostly get filler instead of the good stuff.

 

[BaaBaa]

I want to use goats to control the length of my grass, just think cut the grass, fertilize, and at the get milk too. But the wife says NOOOOOOOO.

That's because goats are browsers, wife knows best. Instead get sheep, they are grazers and will keep the lawn looking nice while depositing lovely time release pelletized fertilizer. Oh and use electric netting to contain them on the yard and away from flowers and garden beds and eat any that jump out.

 

[arjay]

Quit bagging and began mulching about 20 years ago.With a sharp blade and enough horsepower the lawn will look great and it saves a lot of effort.If the lawn is too long just run over it a 2nd time.

 

[doublesharp]

Mulch with sharp gator blades.