One thing you cannot avoid is mowing. After all, everyone intends to keep their landscape looking all neat and presentable. However, once you are done, one thing you will need to address is your grass clippings.
In case you didn’t know, they form a considerable amount of yard waste. In fact, in 2015, as much as 17 million tons of these clippings ended up as waste. So, here is the thing. You’ll constantly need to dispose of grass clippings.
However, this can be quite challenging either due to their size or your lack of options. Regardless, that doesn’t have to be the case anymore. Various options exist that allow you to dispose of your grass clippings after mowing effectively.
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What To Do With Grass Clippings After Mowing?
In this article, we’ll discuss 13 amazing ways to dispose of grass clippings after mowing. This way, you can make better use of your time. And of course, effectively dispose of your grass clippings.
1. Leave It There
Your first bet is to leave the grass clippings on your lawn without packing them. We bet you’re probably wondering how this constitutes disposing of your grass clippings. Well, it is.
Typically, clippings around or less than an inch decompose quickly. In turn, this makes them a viable source of fertilizers for your lawn. They release various nutrients like potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus. The great thing is that you don’t have to spend money on fertilizers.
Also, you might have heard that your clippings cause a thatch in your lawn. However, this is merely a myth. Your thatch occurs when you don’t mow enough or where you over-fertilize your plants with nitrogen.
On the other hand, when you leave grass clippings, you increase your soil’s moisture retainment during the hot period. As such, your lawn doesn’t turn brown. However, ensure that you avoid having thick accumulation. This way, the grass clippings decompose fast.
2. Mulch
The word mulch is most likely not new to you. It plays a significant role in your garden. However, over the years, you’ve headed to the garden store to buy it.
Well, now, you can get free mulch with your grass clippings. You don’t need to spend a dime, and it’s easier to move it than mulch from the store.
All you need to know is ensure weeds aren’t part of the clippings. Then you can place a significant amount of the clippings as a layer around your shrubs and plants. However, ensure that each layer doesn’t exceed between 1 and 2 inches. Otherwise, you would experience problems with the release of methane. In case you didn’t know, this creates a foul smell.
3. Fuel Compost Microbes
Another way to dispose of your grass clipping is to use it as fuel. We’ve got to say. This isn’t as common as some other options. However, this a great way to maximize your grass clippings. It involves using your grass clippings to provide heat to your compost.
However, when doing this, you need to keep one thing in mind. Precisely, your compost represents another living system. As such, while you want to provide heat, you don’t want to cook the microbes.
So, add a significant amount to keep the pile warm, but not too hot. Also, you want to balance the grass clippings with some brown/dry materials. You can always use dry leaves or shredded newspapers to achieve this. All you’ll need to do is combine them with a 1:1 ratio.
Also, ensure you turn the compost regularly. This way, you can guarantee even decomposing and release its hot spots.
4. Grass Clippings Tea
When trying to dispose of your grass clipping, you can use it to make grass clipping tea. This involves creating a nitrogen-rich mixture that keeps your plants happy. We bet you’re wondering how you’re going to do this.
Well, here you go.
Fill up one-third of your 5-gallon container with grass clippings. It would be best if they were fresh. Then, you can fill up the container with water. Ensure you cover the container with a screen or cheesecloth to avoid the growth of mosquito. Also, you want to keep it out of sight as it will produce a foul smell.
Now, wait for about two weeks, after which you get excellent and effective fertilizer tea. You can then add it to the watering can and water your plants. You can use this tea regularly, between 2 and 4 weeks.
5. Use It as Food
Of course, we don’t expect you to munch on grass clippings as your breakfast or lunch. However, you can use it as food for the various critters in your homestead.
Over the years, cows, sheep, geese, goats, and various other poultry find grass clippings as good food. You can easily satisfy them with your grass clippings while you rid yourself of it.
However, ensure that you get it to these animals as fast as possible. Preferably, do this immediately after you complete mowing. Otherwise, the clippings will ferment and will be less useful for this purpose.
Also, it would be best if you kept in mind that this use has a limitation. This involves cases where you have treated your lawn with herbicides or pesticides. In such cases, the chemical can be dangerous to animals.
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6. Approach A Local Disposal Site
Local disposal centers accept a wide array of items. One such item is your grass clippings. Yes, not every disposal center accepts clippings. However, you can confirm those that do and approach them.
Also, they might only accept yard wastes, like grass clippings, on specific days. As such, you want to confirm the days before approaching the disposal center.
You must keep in mind that you might be required to pay for each visit. As such, it would be best if you allowed your clippings to accumulate. This way, you reduce your trips to the disposal center.
7. Give a Friend
We bet this sounds extremely simple and basic to you. Regardless, it’s a great way for you to dispose of your grass clippings. In some cases, you might have too much grass clipping. In other cases, you might just not find any of the methods above useful to you.
Then, it’s simple. You just need to find someone who needs your grass clippings and get it over to them. All you need to do is: put up some posts on various platforms about free grass clippings pick up. You’ll be sure to have loads of offers in record time.
Alternatively, you can also spice it up. You can have those interested in your grass clippings mow your lawn for you. In return, you give them your clippings for free. Great right?
8. Use as A Dye
You’ll hardly find this option out there, but it’s a fact. One way to dispose of your grass clippings after mowing is to use them as a dye. Remember how that grass stains your favorite Jean’s when you walk on them? Well, that’s what makes them such an excellent option as a dye.
All you need to do is convert it to your natural dye. Now, as with every other dye, all you need to do is get a mordant. This will helps ensure the colorfastness of the grass clipping. Even more, you can choose from a variety of mordants to produce various colors. For instance, you can get bright gold, pale yellow, and green.
However, here’s one thing you should keep in mind. When considering the use of clipping grass as dyed, you only want freshly cut grass. This is extremely important if you intend to get the best result.
9. Use to Retain Moisture
If you’re one who loves indoor gardening, then you’re in luck.
One way to dispose of your grass clippings after mowing is by using them in your garden maintenance. Precisely, you can use them to retain moisture and avoid the stress of watering your garden daily.
In case you think this isn’t relevant, just consider the stress that comes with carrying water daily. Now, by clipping grass, you reduce this.
All you need to do get some grass clippings. Then, add a layer to the soil’s top. Typically, this should be between one and two inches. Now, when you do this, you can breathe easy. This will lock in moisture, provide some fertilizer, and make things easier for you.
10. Use it as Hay
You can also use your gas clippings as hay. All you need to do is get it to dry at the earliest. You can turn it daily to ensure it gets fully dry. Afterward, you can give it to your bunnies. You can also serve the hay with other materials to make it the appropriate dish.
11. Make Lasagna
Another great option to dispose of your grass clippings is to make lasagna in an aluminum pan. This is a great choice for you if you’re a lazy gardener, and you’re looking to engage in minimal weeding. So, here’s the thing, don’t take this the wrong way. It’s quite an effective option.
All you need to do is put your grass clippings to work in this no-dish gardening system. You’ll find out that it’s quite useful if you’ve got considerable grass clippings that you want to dispose of. So, here’s what you need to do.
First, get a layer of cardboard, preferably corrugated. Now, place it where you intend to have your garden and wet it. In turn, this will allow this cardboard to start decomposing.
The next step is to create a layer of brown items. This will involve placing materials like newspapers and dry leaves on the area. Then, you can apply the grass clippings. Ensure you create the brown and clippings in a layer of 2 to 1.
With this, you get a gluten-free lasagna that allows you to grow shrubs and plants easily. You don’t have to spend considerable time on maintenance. You can also avoid weed.
12. Use in Your Worm Bin
You can also dispose of your grass clippings by adding it to your worm bin. All you just need to do is allow it to dry out. Once it becomes brown, you can add it as a bedding material in the bin.
This idea is great because dry grass functions effectively as a bedding material. All you just need to do is mix it up with dry leaves. It might be best to maintain an equal portion. Once you do, your worms are in it for the time of their lives.
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13. Donate to Local Farmers
Unlike your friends, you don’t need to know them. All you need to do is find local farmers who are interested in getting grass clippings. This a great idea if you live close to these farms.
You can get in contact with them. They will be delighted when you offer them clippings. In turn, they can use it to feed cattle, among others.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to worry about disposing of your grass clippings anymore. In this article, we’ve listed 13 great options that you can maximize. So, check it out and have fun.