Can i put grass clippings in compost

Clippings are composed of water and easily-degradable compounds that break down rapidly and do not accumulate. Long clippings may contain wiry stem material that is slower to decompose, but are still not significant contributors to thatch buildup. While leaving clippings on the lawn is recommended, there are some exceptions to the rule:. In general, putting mulch around flowers, vegetables, shrubs and trees helps reduce weeds, conserve moisture and moderate soil temperatures.

Grass clippings are a good mulch option with a few conditions:. Composting involves mixing grass clippings and other plant materials with a small amount of soil containing microorganisms that decompose organic matter. Grass clippings are excellent additions to a compost pile because of their high nitrogen content.

Grass clippings should not be the only compost material. As with mulches, a thick layer of grass clippings in a compost pile will lead to bad odors from anaerobic decomposition. Mix them with dry materials such as leaves or straw. See Composting and mulching — A guide to managing organic yard wastes. All rights reserved.

Do not drench the pile, as everyone knows how stinky wet grass can be. The anaerobic conditions of wet, dense clippings trap the nitrogen and convert it into ammonia, which smells!

Moist is best for the inside of your compost pile , even if the outer layer is dry from sun and wind exposure. The best way to turn compost is to use a shovel or pitchfork. Dig into the center of the pile and flip it over to an area directly next to the current heap. Keep the material fluffy. You want as many air pockets as possible! The longer you leave compost uncovered compost, the more nutrients leach out.

When done right, under perfect conditions, composted grass clippings should decompose in less than three weeks. Of course, perfection when composting is nearly impossible. Expect most grass-clipping compost piles to take between weeks. Grass clippings are already thin and short, which expedites the decomposition process. You can help the matter even more by cutting your lawn more often, so the clippings are shorter when you add them to your pile.

Doing this only works if you cut your lawn frequently, and your grass is less dense, so the cuttings settle to the ground. Do take caution, since mowing a thick lawn can leave a large number of clippings on top of the turf, which leads to damage like brown patches.

A good routine is to spread a thin layer of clippings over the ground, then work them into the top six or eight inches of soil with a rake. If you own a rototiller, you can incorporate grass clippings even faster. Some people prefer to bag or compost their yard waste for aesthetic purposes or because they do not want to track the clippings into their home.

But apart from aesthetics, there are additional disadvantages to recycling grass clippings into lawns. Yards that are overgrown or wet often leads to clumping of grass. These clumps of grass clippings, if left on the lawn, can discolor and smother your lawn. There are a couple of remedies for this — either collect the clumps or go over the lawn again to break the clumps into smaller pieces. Both can be time-consuming. Other things to avoid with mulching lawn mowers are large quantities of leaves and weeds.

Many lawn mowers especially older ones cannot handle an abundance of leaves. In addition to excess leaves, weeds , like dandelions, knotgrass, and crabgrass should not be mulched. Mulching returns the clippings back into your lawn and in so doing you risk spreading weed seeds throughout your lawn. But for composters, dried leaves are excellent for aeration and supplying microbes with protein.

And weeds are ideal green material. They break down easily in compost and microbes will consume those pesky weed seeds for you. Composting your grass clippings is a great way to recycle essential nutrients. There are a number of household foods and products which, when paired with grass clippings, will work wonders to create rich organic compost for your lawn and garden. The composting process can take a few weeks but the results are worth the wait.

Your homemade compost can be applied as topsoil, mulch, and plant nourishment. Every second or third year I use compost to top-dress and feed my lawn after I aerate and overseed it in the fall.

I've learned to love caring for my lawn naturally and enjoying it daily. On this blog I'll share some of my best tips and tutorials to help you make your lawn the best on the block! Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Skip to content. A 3-stage composting set-up.