THE MAGIC OF MULCH

I have been scolded by my loyal readers (both of them) for not posting to my blog more often. What can I say? I plead guilty. My only defense is that I’ve been busy with other things.

I will try to do better. However, I try not to bore you with inane comments that insult your intelligence. I may bruise your brain once in awhile, but I try to write only when I have something to say.

So what is this “Magic of Mulch” crap? Just this. We suburbanites are wasting too much money – not to mention valuable nutrients – on bagging our lawn clippings.

I purchased a new lawn mower last spring and more by accident than design the lawn mower I got was a mulching mower. That means it has a heavy-duty engine (7.5 hp) and a more bell shaped blade housing. This design forces the clipped grass blades back downs through the rotating blade to be cut again before falling to the ground. The more powerful engine guarantees that the cutting blade rotates fast enough to whack those clippings one more time before they fall into the grass below.

This mower has a grass catcher attachment that one can use when cutting taller grass that needs to be bagged or discarded on your compost pile. I have not yet had to use it.

How can that be? Well, as I said, I got this new mower last spring when on the first day of mowing the power mower I had started making strange noises. Since it was 20+ years old and had been repaired once before, I turned it off and headed for the mall to find another. I found the mower I wanted and purchased it that day. Hence, I was on top of the spring-summer mowing season from day one with my new mulching mower.

I didn’t know much about mulching mowers and, like many of you, had used a grass catcher in the past to collect grass clippings that I put on my compost pile. This compost pile has for 45 years added much needed moister-holding content to my otherwise very sandy garden soil. I never bagged my grass clippings to be carted off to the town compost pile.

As I read about mulching, however, I learned that mulching your grass clippings is actually preferable to bagging. Those grass clippings contain valuable nutrients that our lawns need. In fact, many of us buy expensive fertilizer to put on our lawn in the spring (and fall) to improve the root system and help thicken the mat of “good” grass that will then prevent weed grasses from getting started. Those nutrients find their way into the blades of grass that we cut off – and then throw away.

Mulching puts those nutrients right back into the soil. The nutrients are recycled, if you will, and many of us are ardent recyclers. Recycling helps the environment, improves the looks of our lawn, and saves money.

But, you might complain, aren’t those brown clumps of dry grass ugly, not to mention bad for the lawn as they breed mold and create thatch that must later be removed with a thatching tool? That can happen if you wait too long between mowing, as is common among those who bag their grass clippings. Mulching requires that you cut only the top one-third of the grass blade AND that one-third should be no more than one inch long.

Consider these points from the Cornell University Cooperative Extension office:



Just Mow It: A Guide to Grass Recycling

Consider The Benefits Of Leaving Clippings On The Lawn When Mowing:

• You can save one-third of your annual lawn care time by mowing frequently and not collecting clippings.

• Clippings left on the lawn recycle nutrients, saving about 25% of your annual fertilizer costs. According to Dr. Norman Hummel, Jr., Turfgrass Specialist at Cornell University, "one ton of fresh clippings contain approximately 15 pounds of nitrogen, 2 pounds of phosphorous and 10 pounds of potassium -- the three major nutrients -- and smaller quantities of the other elements essential for plant life." We must stop thinking of grass clippings as "garbage."

• According to a University of Connecticut research scientist, clippings left on the lawn can increase the organic content of the soil and lead to increased earthworm activity. Earthworms improve soil aeration and water movement through the soil, providing a better environment for plant growth.

• A ton of grass clippings contains more than 1,700 pounds of water. Leaving clippings on the lawn saves tax dollars spent for labor, fuel costs and dumping fees that are incurred to dispose of this moisture-laden material.



How to Recycle Grass: Successful recycling of grass clippings to your lawn requires nothing more than basic lawn care on a regular basis.

• Mow when your grass is dry and 3 to 3-1/2 inches tall. Never cut it shorter than 2 to 2-1/2 inches or remove more than one third of the leaf surface at any one mowing. This will allow your lawn to have a larger and deeper root system -- a stronger defense against weeds, diseases and drought.

• Use a sharp mower blade or a mulching mower if you have one. A sharp blade and frequent mowing will mean finer clippings that will decompose quickly. If you have trouble using your mower without the bagger, call your dealer for assistance. Mulching kits are available to retrofit some mowers.



So why am I talking about mulching this time of year? With a light dusting of snow already on the ground in this part of New York, most of us are thinking about putting our lawnmowers away and making sure the snow blower works. Yes, but for one nasty little thing: all those leaves that are on the ground or still on the trees. They are out there (under the snow, perhaps) and still need to be removed unless we want some ugly brown spots on our lawn next spring.

Now is the time to think about mulching those leaves rather than raking them. Mulching leaves makes as much sense as mulching lawn clippings. Here’s why, as explained by the folks at Superlandscaping: http://www.superlandscaping.com/learn/leaf-mulching.

Benefits of Leaf Mulching

Following are some of the main benefits mulching can offer your lawn:

• Soil enrichment: leaf mulch is excellent for returning nutrients back to the soil and causes your lawn to require less fertilizer and other additives as a result.

• Water conservation: mulching can help to retain moisture in the soil in your lawn. When you cover soil with leaf mulch, the mulch reduces the soil’s exposure to sunlight and wind, which reduces water evaporation.

• Insulation: mulch insulates your plants’ roots from the heat in the summer, the cold during winter, and wind all year long. It also prevents soil compaction and erosion from wind and rain.

• Weed control: leaf mulching can help prevent weeds from growing in your lawn by covering the surface of your lawn. You should add a thick layer of mulch (two to three inches) in gardens to reduce the need for herbicides.

• Saves money: by using natural fertilization methods instead of synthetic ones, you can save money on caring for your lawn.

I have already mulched my first batch of leaves under the crab apple tree and the weeping cherry, but I will be out there again later in the week when this snow dusting evaporates (or melts) and the leaves are dry. It’s quick, easy on my back and good for my lawn.

You might want to give it a try.