A guide to ‘grasscycling’: Top ways to get rid of grass clippings

Top 4 best ways to get rid of grass clippings

Summer is here – and, boy, are you prepared. You’ve trimmed your hedges like a pro, treated the plants to a healthy feed and even mowed the grass. But now you have a decision to make about how to best dispose of all those leftover grass clippings?

If, like much of the population, your first thought is to dump the lot in the recycling bin, you might want to think again. While this is technically a sound choice, it isn’t advised. See, there are plenty of other ways you can 'grasscycle' your clippings at home. Read on for the low-down on recycling grass clippings.

1. Leave them on the lawn

It might seem counter-productive, but grass clippings help to promote a healthy garden. No, really – they’re nature’s fertiliser. This is because, once clipped, the blades retain essential water and nutrients. By leaving them on top of your fresh grass, you are supporting soil health – which also means not having to contend with any clean-ups.

To make the job easier, opt for a lawnmower which collects clippings as you cut. The CLM50 battery lawn mower CLM50, for instance, boasts a huge 50-litre bin so you can clip and fertilise your garden quickly. When you’re finished mowing, just detach the bin, open the flap and sprinkle the clippings around your garden Or even better, try our Gtech Robotic Lawnmower RLM50 which uses sharp blades to cut very small pieces of grass which fall to the ground, to nourish the earth, ensuring a rich and healthy lawn.

TOP TIP: Ensure that your garden is clear of weeds before leaving any lawn clippings. Otherwise, you could be providing fertile ground for weeds to grow.

22. Use grass clippings as mulch and place under hedges and foliage.

Are your hedges and bushes looking tired? A generous helping of grass clippings could be just what they need. To perk up your foliage, simply sprinkle a layer of the mulch at the base of your chosen shrub to give them sufficient moisture and nutrients. Then, get the sun lounger out and put your feet up – your work here is done.

3. Make a compost heap

If you have a large garden, you could find yourself with more grass clippings than your hedges can handle. That’s okay though, there is plenty you can do with your bundle. One of the most sustainable ways to reuse large amounts of clippings is to start your own compost heap. To make the perfect batch, add a balanced 2:1 ratio of green to brown material (green would be things like grass, whereas brown is leaves, twigs and branches). This ensures a healthy combination of carbon and nitrogen for neighbouring plants and flowers. And don’t worry if your ratio isn’t exact; you can always dry some clippings out until they turn brown and then mix them in.

TOP TIP: If you don’t have the room for your own compost pile, check whether your neighbours would like one. Alternatively, offer it out to a local allotment – many people will be happy to take it.

4. What not to do with grass clippings?

Just because some garden waste is biodegradable, it doesn’t mean we can dispose of it haphazardly. In fact, certain methods could damage the environment. For one, you should never burn fresh grass clippings (or any green or damp garden waste), as they release harmful smoke particles and chemicals which have been linked to lung damage.

In the same vein, you shouldn’t throw the clippings into a general waste bin bound for the landfill. As it stands, landfills are already almost full to capacity and adding garden waste that can be recycled will only exacerbate the problem. If your recycling bin is full, pay a visit to your local recycling centre. They will happily accept any organic waste, free of charge.

Now you are familiar with 'grasscycling', it’s time to find the right lawnmower for the job. To find the very best, take a look at the Gtech cordless garden tools.

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