Too Valuable to Waste !
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 landfills 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 fish 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 flooding 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 beneficial and prevent weeds from growing . Cutting only the 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 . oss Township
ROSS TOWNSHIP NEWS
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Source information for this article provided with permission by the EPA
Ross Township | Summer 2016 | icmags . com 57