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But thatch is not made up of grass clippings.
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It is a common misconception that clippings left on the lawn will contribute to thatch buildup. Again, it is important to cut the lawn frequently to produce small grass clippings that will fall between the standing blades and decompose quickly. If the lawn is not cut frequently enough and long clippings are left on the lawn, it may produce a “hay-like” look that can be unsightly. By letting your lawn grow a bit taller, to a height of 3”, the grass will be thicker and healthier. Short grass exposes the soil to more sunlight and airflow, resulting in evaporative water loss, and root growth is diminished. For example, cutting the grass when it is 4” tall to a height of 3” will leave clippings which are approximately 1”.Ĭutting the grass too short may give your lawn the “marine cut” look which some homeowners prefer, but this does not benefit the lawn. A rule of thumb is to cut the grass when the clippings will be less than one-third of the remaining grass height. When the lawn is cut before it gets too tall, the clippings will be small enough to fall between the standing blades of grass, and they will decompose quickly. But if the grass is left to grow too tall before mowing, the clippings will be too long and will lie on top of the lawn, leaving a “hay-like” look.
#Leave grass clippings on lawn full#
To get the full benefit of grasscycling, it’s best to wait until your lawn is tall enough so that after mowing the grass is still about 3” tall. Timing: The secret to successful grasscycling Grasscycling is a win-win practice that enriches your lawn while reducing lawn maintenance. But these short clippings quickly fall between the standing grass blades and disappear from sight. Leave the grass clippings where they fall.Īt first glance, it will appear that the lawn needs raking, since the fresh cut clipping are on top of the lawn. The wounded grass becomes weakened and is less able to prevent invading weeds and recover from disease. Sharp blades cut the grass cleanly and that helps ensure rapid healing and regrowth. In addition, the one-third rule produces smaller clippings that disappear quickly by filtering down to the soil surface. Cutting off more than one-third at a time can stop roots from growing and require more frequent watering during dry summers to keep the grass alive. Cut your grass regularly.Ī good rule is to cut no more than one-third of the grass height at any one mowing. Also in wet conditions the ground is softer and the weight of your mower on the wheels can develop thin ruts through your lawn which can collect water. Wet grass clippings clump together and do not disperse as evenly as dry clippings. Wet grass is heavier and the blades do not stand up uniformly or cut as cleanly as when the grass is dry.