The choice between bagging or mulching grass is one that can affect the health of your lawn. Mulching returns nutrients to the soil and can help keep turf grasses healthy. However, there are situations where bagging is be better for the lawn. Many types of lawnmowers can convert between mulching and bagging settings, which makes it convenient to switch between the two methods when the situation warrants.
Clippings Feed The Lawn
There are many good reasons for leaving grass clipping on the lawn. Grass clippings hold water and nutrients which, if allowed to remain on the lawn, will return to the soil. As the clippings break down, they will help feed and mulch the turf grass. This will cut back on lawn care costs because the lawn will require less fertilizer and supplemental irrigation.
In some cases, leaving clippings on the lawn can cut annual fertilization requirements by one-third. Leaving clippings on the lawn also saves time. There is no need to rake the lawn or take time to empty the bag on a lawn mower. Depending on how the collected grass clippings would be disposed of, leaving clippings on the lawn can also help the environment by not contributing to yard waste in landfills.
Not a Thatch Problem
Thatch is a layer of dead and decaying grass parts just above the soil level. Some people think that leaving clipping on the lawn will cause more problems with thatch, but this is a myth. Grass clippings tend to decay rapidly and if the lawn is mowed frequently they will not increase thatch. How often to mow will depend on the type of grass in your lawn. Bluegrass, Bahiagrass, and St. Augustine grass grow best if mowed between 3 and 4 inches high. Bermudagrass has an optimal mow height between one-half inch and 1 1/2 inches. Zoysia grass can be mowed between 1 and 2 inches. As general rule, no more than one-third of the overall grass height should be removed in a single mowing. This will prevent stress to the grass and keep clippings small enough to decay rapidly.
When to Bag
There are a few situations when it can be better to bag grass clippings than leave them on the lawn. If the lawn is experiencing disease or fungus, the grass can be bagged to avoid spreading the problem.
Grass that is overgrown or mowed when wet is prone to clumping on the lawn. Clumped grass is unsightly and does not distribute nutrients evenly across the lawn as it decays. Overgrown grass also results in longer clippings, which do not decay as rapidly.
Mulching lawn clippings instead of bagging them is environmentally friendly, healthy for your lawn, and a good way to save time and money. Unless the grass is diseased or overgrown, mulching is generally a better choice than bagging.
