


Should I Bag My Grass Clippings if I Have Weeds: Final Thoughts You can also use a mulching blade to chop the clippings into smaller pieces that will quickly decompose. If mowing in dry conditions, it’s best to bag your clippings until the lawn is hydrated again. This can cause your grass to become stressed, making it more susceptible to disease and pests. 5) When Mowing in Dry Conditionsĭry clippings can actually create a barrier on the surface of the lawn that prevents water and air from getting to the grass blades. However, it’s still best to err on the side of caution and bag your clippings just to be safe. Animal waste in contact with grass clippings can contaminate them and spread diseases.Įnsuring that you tidy up after your pet immediately can help to reduce the risk of contamination. If you have pets, you’ll need to be extra careful about leaving grass clippings on the lawn. Fungal diseases, in particular, are known to spread through clippings and can quickly infect an entire lawn if left unchecked. 3) Diseased Lawnĭiseases can also spread through grass clippings, so if your lawn is diseased, it’s best to bag the clippings. The heat generated from composting won’t be enough to kill the weed seeds, and you’ll end up with a weed-infested compost pile. With that being said, clippings, if you have weeds, shouldn’t be added to your compost pile. However, their seeds can survive over the winter and will germinate come springtime.īy bagging your clippings, you can prevent these weed seeds from being spread around and causing more problems for your lawn.

This means that they only live for one growing season before dying off. The last thing you want is to spread the weed seeds around and make the problem worse.Ĭertain weeds, such as crabgrass, are annual weeds. 2) Weed-Infested LawnĪs we’ve mentioned, you should always bag your grass clippings if your lawn is infested with weeds. In short, if you have extremely overgrown grass, it’s best to bag the clippings until you’ve mowed it down to a manageable length. If you live in an area with little rainfall, this can be a huge problem as your grass won’t get the hydration it needs to survive. Unless you mow your lawn regularly, it’s best to bag the clippings to avoid this.Īside from preventing sunlight and air from getting to the blades, long clippings can also prevent water from seeping through and reaching the roots. Otherwise, here are some instances where bagging grass clippings is crucial: 1) When You Have Extremely Overgrown GrassĮxtremely long clippings from your overgrown grass can actually smother the lawn and prevent sunlight and air from getting to the grass blades. The grass needs to be healthy, with little to no thatch buildup. When is Bagging Important When Mowing Your Lawn?Īs mentioned earlier, there are certain requirements to meet if you decide to leave your grass clippings on the lawn.
#SHOULD YOU BAG GRASS CLIPPINGS FREE#
If you leave the clippings on your lawn, you’re essentially giving these weed seeds a free ride to a new spot where they can germinate and grow. These weeds spread rapidly and easily, and their seeds can hitch a ride on your grass clippings. Bagging grass clippings should always be done if your lawn is infested with weeds like crabgrass, dandelions, or thistles. That being said, there are exceptions to this rule. As we all know, nitrogen helps keep the grass green and healthy. Leaving them on your lawn is a form of recycling the grass’ nutrients and is similar to adding nitrogen to your lawn. Not to mention, it can also help reduce thatch buildup. If you come to think of it, it helps encourage microorganisms such as earthworms, which are great for aerating the soil. The clippings quickly decompose and release nutrients back into the soil, which helps to fertilize your lawn naturally. On a general note, healthy grass can actually benefit from having grass clippings left on the lawn. Should I Bag My Grass Clippings if I Have Weeds: Final Thoughts Bagging Grass Clippings: Good or Bad?
