"Don't Bag It" Lawn Care
By: B. L. Holland, Master Gardener

Spring and summer grass clippings are a plentiful source of material for the compost pile or for use around plants as a mulch. Here's another great use for clippings -- lawn fertilizer. 

Some people mistakenly believe grass clippings should be removed to make the lawn healthier. Here are some pertinent facts: Up to 25 percent of your lawn's total fertilizer needs are supplied by clippings left on the lawn.  Clippings contain 80 to 85 percent water and decompose quickly. Clippings do not contribute to thatch problems. Homeowners can cut their average mowing time by 30 percent when they do not bag grass.  

In order to make grass clippings work for your lawn, you should mow frequently at a height of 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches for cool season grasses such as fescue, perennial rye and bluegrass. Bermuda and zoysia (warm season grasses) can be mowed 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches. Taller mowing helps grass plants produce deeper and more efficient root systems reducing the need for extra water. Mowing higher can also "shade out" weeds and weed seeds.

Mowing at least weekly or when the grass is no more than four to five inches high will help your mower distribute clippings evenly and avoid clumps. Cool season grasses grow rapidly in spring and may need more frequent mowing. The objective is to remove no more than one-third of the total plant height. Mow with a sharp blade and when the grass is dry. If the lawn needs watering, it is best to water a day or so before you mow to reduce drought stress.

Mowers vary in their safety requirements for removing the bagging attachment, refer to your owners manual. 

There are a few times when you do need to bag clippings: When the lawn is diseased, clippings can further the problem. When the lawn has grown too high and clumping will result. If your mower requires the bagging attachment for safety reasons. 

More information on the "Don't Bag It" system and other lawn guides can be obtained from the University of Missouri Extension Office in Carthage. Enjoy your lawn more, save time and energy, "Don't Bag It."