Grass Clipping Disposal: 3 Simple Suggestions For A Clean Lawn

Wondering how to handle grass clipping disposal? Everyone seems to have a different opinion. On top of that, if you have a large lawn it can feel like an equally big chore just to gather all your grass clippings. Luckily, there are many things you can do with your grass clippings. Here are the three best, and easiest, ways for grass clipping disposal.

1. Compost

Raw organic material from your lawn is a valuable commodity, which makes composting a good option when considering what to do with your grass clippings. You have several options on how to proceed with composting. The first is to simply rake the grass clippings into a pile in an unobtrusive part of your lawn and let them decompose on their own, eventually creating the compost you need for gardening or other fertilizing purposes. You can also add grass clippings to your existing compost pile. Finally, bagging the grass clippings and donating or selling them as compost to a local facility gets them out of your hair and helps growers in your community.

2. Landfill

The second option for grass clippings is to bag them and send them to landfill by way of your municipalities garbage or organic-materials collection service. There are a few caveats associated with this disposal method. You’ll want to make sure that your town approves if collecting yard waste, as some areas have limited landfill space and prefer not to gather up grass, branches and leaves. You should also check to see what types of bags are preferred: plastic bags, which won’t decompose, or paper bags, which will decompose quickly. Once you’ve got a handle on what’s expected of you, you can set up a schedule for pickup that will regularly take care of your leftover grass clippings.

3. Leave them

You might be wondering what to do with your grass clippings if you don’t have that much time on your hands. Simply leaving your clippings on the lawn after you’ve cut it has no real negative effect on your grass, and in some hot climates could actually protect fresh growth from the harsher effects of the sun. If you have a mulching mower, the more finely chopped grass will decompose quicker while offering the same type of protection. But make sure the clippings don’t build up to the point where they make a thatched covering that completely blocks sun and rain from reaching your lawn.

Check out all the lawn and garden products available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on grass clipping disposal, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

Photo courtesy of Morguefile.