If you mow your own lawn, you’ll probably end up with an excess amount of grass clippings. Of course, you can always skip the bag and the set your lawn mower on “mulch,” but grass clippings can actually prove useful. Here are just a few things you can do with them.
Add Them to Compost
Assuming you have a compost bin or pile, you can add your grass clippings to enhance its nutritional properties. Being that it’s organic, it breaks down easily while subsequently releasing beneficial nutrients into your compost.
Grass contains high concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, making it a powerful fertilizer for plants and flowers. Before adding your grass clippings, however, it’s recommended that you let them dry for a couple days.
Raised Flowerbeds
You can also use grass clippings to raise a flowerbed. If your flowerbed is currently low – to the point of it washing away during rainstorms – raising it can protect it from damage.
By raising your flowerbed just an inch or two, you’ll encourage water to drain away from it; thus, protecting it from the rain. There are dozens of ways to raise a flowerbed, though one of the easiest – and cheapest – is to use grass clippings.
Simply spread the clippings evenly throughout the flowerbed until you achieve the desired height.
Protect Plants During Cold Snaps
Grass clippings can even be used to protect plants and flowers during cold snaps. Regardless of where you live, you’ll probably experience several cold snaps throughout the year, most of which occur during the late fall and winter months.
While it’s best to bring your plants indoors to protect them from cold damage, this isn’t an option unless your plants are in containers. You can, however, use grass clippings to protect them.
Place the clippings around the base of your plants and flowers to insulate them from the cold temperatures. As an added benefit, the nutrients released from the clippings will stimulate growth.
Livestock Feed
If you raise livestock, you can use grass clippings as feed. Horses, ponies, goats and many other farm animals love feasting on grass clippings.
Just remember to avoid giving your livestock wet clippings, as they may contain harmful illness-causing bacteria. Stick with dry, recently harvested grass clippings to ensure it doesn’t cause illness.
The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.
If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or
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