The simple answer is... no! You do not have to pick up your grass clippings when you cut your lawn. Leaving your grass clippings, also known as mulching or grasscycling, is a great way to keep your lawn healthy by returning most of the nutrients back into the soil.
The longer answer is still no, as long as you maintain a proper mowing schedule. When mowing your lawn, you should follow the “1/3 rule,” which means setting your mowing height so that you are only cutting a third of the height of the grass blades. This method promotes your grass to grow outwards instead of upwards, leading to a thick and healthy lawn. This practice also ensures that you are not suffocating your lawn by leaving too much grass.
Your lawn is a living ecosystem that needs nutrients and moisture to grow and thrive. Mulching significantly aids in both of these aspects by returning nutrients and moisture to the soil instead of removing them when bagging. Additionally, mulching can help reduce maintenance costs by decreasing the amount of fertilizing needed.
The one time that you should pick up your lawn clippings is when your lawn shows signs of disease. If your lawn has a disease, such as dollar spot or brown patch, mulching can exacerbate the problem by spreading the diseased clippings throughout the lawn. Bagging the clippings can prevent the spread of diseases and, in some cases, aid in the healing process of your lawn.
Are you ready for the lawn that you have always wanted? Give Lawnjunkie a shout for a free estimate today!