Poll: When you mow do you mulch, bag or shoot it out the side?

[FeathersMcGraw]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Actually this will be a good thread for quite a few people, especially those that don't understand the effects of bagging away the cut grass.

Mulching too frequently is as detrimental as constantly bagging.

Composting is probably the best approach.

 

[DaiShan]

For grass I shoot it back into the grass, it keeps the nutrients in the soil meaning less fertilization required. However make sure it doesn't mat down, go over the clippings a few times, for leaves I bag them and put them in the area in the back with all of the trees.

 

[MithShrike]

When I actually had a lawn I'd just shoot it out the side and then rake it up. The bag had some holes in it and I didn't want to bother with the grass all up on me.

 

[amdskip]

Shoot it out the side/mulch, it's all good

 

[Gujski]

mulch or bag.
I like to mulch one week then bag the next. I dont mind bagging because we have woods across the street for dumping the clippings

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: SagaLore
A little tip I found out not too long ago: Although you have to cut more often, if you keep your grass cut at a higher setting, the grass will drown out the weeds.

Not to mention, the lawn will be healthier for it, staying greener with less water required.

 

[bunker]

Mulch. I mow every 4-5 days (bermuda grass, grows like a weed) so it never gets that long and the cut grass is small and can decompose quickly.

I bag when rain or something else prevents me from mowing that frequently.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: FeathersMcGraw

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Actually this will be a good thread for quite a few people, especially those that don't understand the effects of bagging away the cut grass.

Mulching too frequently is as detrimental as constantly bagging.

Composting is probably the best approach.

Please explain (about too much mulching).

 

[bunker]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: FeathersMcGraw

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Actually this will be a good thread for quite a few people, especially those that don't understand the effects of bagging away the cut grass.

Mulching too frequently is as detrimental as constantly bagging.

Composting is probably the best approach.

Please explain (about too much mulching).

One word, thatch.

 

[aircooled]

Mulching is the best!

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Mulching too frequently is as detrimental as constantly bagging.

Please explain (about too much mulching).

If the grass does not decompose sufficiently by the time the next mulch layer is deposited on top of it, you're forming a thatch layer. Thatch layers prevent new growth by preventing sunlight from reaching new blades, provide additional hiding places for insects, and trap moisture (which encourages disease).

Mulch or not?

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: FeathersMcGraw

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Mulching too frequently is as detrimental as constantly bagging.

Please explain (about too much mulching).

If the grass does not decompose sufficiently by the time the next mulch layer is deposited on top of it, you're forming a thatch layer. Thatch layers prevent new growth by preventing sunlight from reaching new blades, provide additional hiding places for insects, and trap moisture (which encourages disease).

Mulch or not?

Wow I learn something new everyday... I always assumed that even if that layer built up, it was still effective at keeping the moisture in the ground, but I never thought of it has a new-growth inhibitor or even a bug den. That makes sense.

 

[DT4K]

A thin layer of thatch is good. A thick layer is bad.
If you mow often enough and don't over fertilize, mulching is best. The clippings should normally decompose fairly quickly and provide valuable organic material to the soil. If the thatch builds up too much, you need to dethatch or aerate. Aerating is recommended and should be done once every year or two. It will break up the thatch and allow moisture and air to get in and help decompose the material.

 

[Ryan]

I mulch once a month, then bag every other time.

 

[Chaotic42]

When I was a kid I used to bag. I mowed 2x a week in the summer.

 

[Beller0ph1]

Mulch plus Milorganite from MMSD makes my lawn thick and green. A little rain and some thunderstorms help too. Seriously, that Milorganite makes it almost too thick to cut. Either that or our mower is dying.

 

[Eli]

Side shoot.

 

[ViperMagic]

We side eject, mostly. Our brushhog just kinda beats the piss out of things until they fall down, though.

I think my father would perfer bagging, but we have 4 acres to mow, plus 8 to brushhog, so its just not going to happen.

As for sharpening the blades, once a year we jack up the tractors and hit them with a grinder.