Go Bagless

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Going Bagless means simply removing the bag from your mower and leaving the clippings on the lawn while mowing your grass. It is best practice to maintain a healthy lawn while saving yourself the time and effort required to bag the clippings.

Benefits of Going Bagless

I Do It For My Lawn/Garden

Going Bagless is easy and gives you a lush, healthy lawn and garden.
Fresh clippings are 80-85% water. They protect the soil by keeping moisture in the ground.
Grass clippings quickly break down and add nutrients to your soil and reduce the need for watering.
Going Bagless protects soil from extreme elements and helps prevent disease, thatch and weed growth.

Learn more about going bagless and thatch

I Do It Because It’s Easy

No bagging and dragging of grass and leaves required.
I save time watering and fertilizing your lawn. Fresh clippings contain 80-85% water, slow water evaporation from soil and quickly decompose.
I save money! No need to spend extra money on yard waste bags, water, fertilizer or mulch. Grass clippings and leaves are a great resource for your lawn and garden.

I Do It For The Environment

Going Bagless can cut water use in half and reduce fertilizer use by 25% per household.
Going Bagless can reduce emissions from waste collection vehicles. The quicker a collection vehicle is filled, the more times it has to go to the Edmonton Waste Management Centre to dump yard waste or food scraps cart materials.
Fallen leaves contain nutrients that can maintain a healthy garden and promote a lively ecosystem by providing cover for pollinators and wildlife in winter.

How to Go Bagless

Mow high: Raise the height of your mower and only cut off 1/3 of the length of the grass blades. Mow the grass to the height of your pinky, or 6-8 cm. The smaller the grass clippings, the quicker they can decompose.

Mow often: During peak grass growing season, mow about every 4-5 days. When growth is slower, cutting once a week or less is enough!

Mow when grass is dry: Cutting wet grass can cause clumping, so it’s best to let the grass dry after the rain or mow over the clumps again. If your grass is too long, start by mowing higher and then mow it again at a lower setting. This gives your lawn an even trim and keeps the clippings small.

Mow, mulch or leave leaves: Small amounts of leaves can be mowed right into your lawn. For large amounts of leaves, use them as mulch to protect shrubs and garden beds.

Think leaving grass clippings on the lawn causes thatch or lawn disease? Think again! Check out “Myths Busted” where we dispel common myths about grasscycling.

It’s easy! Check out this video to learn how!

Composting

Learn the basics of composting with tips on getting started, how to maintain your composter and what types of materials you can compost.

Excess Yard Waste

Learn what to do with your excess yard waste.

Myths Busted!

Dispelling common myths about grasscycling and leaving clippings on your lawn.

Myth 1: Leaving grass clippings on the lawn causes thatch

Thatch is dead grass roots and stems that a lawn builds up just above the soil layer. Grass needs some thatch.
Up to 2 cm of thatch is beneficial: it protects roots and maintains moisture in soil. However, thatch layers greater than 2 cm should be reduced.
Samples taken from test lawns during an Edmonton pilot showed that proper grasscycling does not contribute to thatch growth.
Excessive root growth from over-watering and over-fertilizing are the main causes of thatch.
Grass clippings are 80-85% water, allowing them to break down quickly.

Myth 2: Leaving grass clippings on the lawn looks unattractive/untidy

When cut properly, grass clippings fall between blades and are barely noticeable.
Grass clippings can clump together if grass is mowed while wet or if grass clippings are too long. This can be fixed easily by mowing the area again in a different direction.
Grass clippings break down quickly and disappear within 3 days after cutting.

Myth 3: Leaving grass clippings on the lawn spreads lawn disease

Lawn disease is not caused by grasscycling (leaving grass clippings on the lawn). It can be caused by improper mowing, over- or under- watering or over fertilization.
Cutting grass too short or with a dull lawn mower blade are two examples of improper mowing that can cause lawn disease.
Adequately watering your lawn can prevent lawn disease. Single deep waterings every 7-10 days are more effective and less wasteful than many light waterings.

Myth 4: I need to mow more often

If you mow your lawn at a higher cut (to the height of your pinky), it will require less mowing than a shorter cut lawn.
Leaving the clippings on your lawn means less time spent bagging grass for yard waste collection or Eco Station drop-off, or hauling and dumping it into the food scraps cart every week.
Going Bagless reduces the time mowing, bagging, watering and fertilizing. You can save up to one day of time by leaving your grass clippings on the lawn for a summer.

Myth 5: I need a mulching mower

Any mower will work for leaving grass clippings on the lawn as long as you cut high.
Simply remove the bag from your mower, raise the height of the blades to the medium setting and keep the mower blade sharp!

Myth 6: I have to go bagless every time

Going bagless doesn’t have to be all or nothing. During long periods of wet weather or if mowing is infrequent, you may have to bag your grass or top up your food scraps cart since you will have long grass blades.
It’s ok if you can’t always leave your grass clippings on the lawn.
Grass clippings, when you have them, are a great addition to your backyard compost pile. They can also be used as mulch to provide weed control and prevent moisture loss around flower beds, trees and shrubs.
If you have a small amount of grass clippings, you always add them to the top of your food scraps cart, as long as the lid can close.
Drop off excess grass clippings to an Eco Station. Yard waste in plastic bags must be debagged before placing it in the bin.

Myth 7: Leaving grass clippings on the lawn spreads dandelions

Leaving grass clippings on your lawn can prevent and reduce dandelions. It results in a fuller, healthier and nutrient lawn, leaving less room for dandelions to grow.
Mowing high (to the height of your pinky) prevents sunlight from allowing weeds to grow. A low cut lawn is more susceptible to dandelions.

Contact Us

Telephone	In Edmonton: 311 Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311

Telephone

In Edmonton: 311

Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311

Email	wastesupport@edmonton.ca