As of December 1, 1993, Ohio law began prohibiting landfills from accepting yard waste such as grass clippings, leaves, and brush as regular solid waste. Left where they belong, grass clippings decompose quickly. If placed in bags in landfills and buried under trash, they take years to break down all the while taking up valuable landfill space.
If you currently bag your clippings, the solution is simple; just mow your lawn and let the clippings fall to the soil. They will decompose rapidly, and because they contain important nutrients, they will help feed your lawn. That means that you won’t have to fertilize as often as you may now. You won’t need to water your lawn as much either since grass clippings are more than 80% water. Less fertilizing, less watering, and no more lawn bags means saving money!
Here are some suggestions for a great lawn without bagging:
- Don’t cut your grass too short.
- Mow when your grass is 3 to 4 inches tall and set your mower blades to only cut 1 inch; it’s better to only cut 1/3 of the length at a time.
- Mow only when it is dry.
- Keep your mower blade sharp.
If you are faced with a large pile of excess clippings:
- Use it for mulch by spreading a thin layer of clippings around trees and shrubs, or between the rows of your garden.
- Mix it with your leaves and start your own compost pile.
- Take it to your local landfill where it will be properly managed.
- Call your local government for local pick-ups or yard waste drop-off sites.