Tip 4 on Greening Up Your Yard
Mulch your grass
Use a mulching mower and leave your grass clippings on your lawn. This provides a great source of slow-release nitrogen for your lawn.
A win-win situation
Mulching! It sounds too good to be true. No bagging, no raking, no hassle – it's good for you, and it's good for your lawn.
Choosing the right mower
There are two types of mowers available on the market. The most common is the rotary mower with the blade turning horizontally in a circular motion.
Reel mowers, on the other hand, turn vertically and make scissor-like cuts. Hand push reel mowers are popular for use in small lawn areas.
Stay sharp
Sharpen your mower blade in the spring and keep it sharp throughout the season. Grass will recover more quickly from one clean cut than from many tears.
A word of caution
Avoid mulching if your clippings are over 2 1/2 cm (1 inch). This would result in too many clippings on your lawn. This would take longer to break down and may lead to a thatch problem.
Source: Lawn Maintenance brochure, Health Canada, 2002.
