Grasscycling

Grasscycling is the practice of leaving grass clippings on the lawn after mowing. Instead of bagging and disposing of the clippings, they are allowed to fall back onto the soil. This is a natural and beneficial way to manage lawn waste.

The clippings decompose quickly, returning valuable nutrients to the soil, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which can reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers. This nutrient recycling is essentially a form of composting in place. Grasscycling also reduces the volume of waste sent to landfills, contributing to environmental sustainability.

To grasscycle effectively, it's important to follow a few guidelines. Mowing when the grass is dry prevents clumping. Cutting only the top one-third of the grass blade is also recommended. If clumps do form, they can be dispersed with a rake or by mowing over them again. Most modern lawnmowers are designed to handle grasscycling without issue, often featuring mulching blades that finely chop the clippings. Many municipal waste services encourage or even mandate grasscycling as a waste reduction strategy.