Grass Clippings:
Too Valuable to Waste!
The Ecologic and Economic Impact of Grass Clippings
The common practice of treating grass clippings as waste is resulting in overloaded landfi lls and stormwater
pollution. Grass clippings left on the streets and sidewalks pollute waterbodies through nearby storm drains.
Excessive algae growth is a major outcome of yard waste pollution in streams, lakes, and ponds throughout the
country. At large amounts, algae can be detrimental to fi sh and humans by limiting the amount of oxygen in the
water. In addition to algae growth, grass clippings can also clog storm drains resulting in potential fl ooding and
expensive maintenance to correct the problem.
Grass Pollution Prevention
Leave it on the Lawn – A mulching lawnmower shreds the clippings and leaves them on the grass to
decompose. Mulching not only prevents stormwater pollution, it also provides moisture and fertilizer for the
lawn.
Backyard Composting – If grass clippings are typically bagged then backyard composting is another solution
to pollution prevention. Home compost piles are becoming increasingly popular among residents. Adding grass
to the compost pile provides both moisture and nitrogen allowing for more rapid decomposition. Composting
yard waste is not necessarily restricted to a dedicated compost pile, mulching a garden is an additional option.
Grass clippings provide natural fertilizer through nitrogen, potassium, and some phosphorus components.
However, if weed killers were recently used on the lawn then it’s unadvisable to mulch the garden.
Less Frequent Lawn Mowing – Mowing your grass less can actually be benefi cial and prevent weeds from
growing. Cutting only th e top 1/3 of the grass blades will shade out some weeds and encourage deep root
systems. Additionally, leaving 2 to 3 inches of grass keeps most of the nutrients in.
Learn more at GatewayEngineers.com
Source information for this article
provided with permission by the EPA
Ross Township | Summer 2017 | icmags.com 47