Eventually, all things return to the earth.

But will it be at the landfill or as nutritious food for your
landscape?

"Georgia landfills are filling up and closing. Yard
refuse, especially grass
clippings, is one of the major problems we face," said
Wayne McLaurin, a University
of Georgia Extension Service horticulturist.

"One lawn can produce 1,500 pounds of clippings per
year," McLaurin said.
"Grasscycling is a natural solution."

Grasscycling is recycling grass clippings by leaving them on
the lawn when mowing
instead of bagging them. It’s a simple, effective way to save
landfill space while saving
time, work and money in the landscape.

"Grasscycling may mean an extra mowing per month,"
McLaurin said.

Proper mowing is key to successful grasscycling. Cut the
grass at the recommended
height. Keep the mower blade sharp. Mow when the grass is dry.
And mow often enough to
remove no more than one-third of the grass height.

"This generally requires mowing every five days instead
of seven," McLaurin
said.

All mowers can grasscycle. No special equipment is needed.
Many manufacturers sell
attachments that chop clippings into smaller pieces and improve
a mower’s grasscycling
performance.

Some people have thought removing grass clippings would slow
thatch development.

"Research shows that thatch buildup is caused by grass
stems, shoots and
roots," McLaurin said. "The clippings decompose fast
and release valuable
nutrients into the soil."

Grass clippings can be combined with leaves and other
landscape trimmings, too, to make
mulch.

Mulches conserve moisture, insulate plants’ roots from
temperature extremes and help
control weeds. They also provide a barrier to some soil-borne
diseases that feed on plant
foliage.

As organic mulches decompose on the soil surface, they add
valuable plant nutrients.
They also protect sloping grounds from erosion and prevent soil
compaction from driving
rains.

Mulched areas require little routine maintenance and can save
you time and energy.

To make mulch, recycle what’s available.

"Leaves, grass clippings, pine straw and trimmings are
excellent mulches for
landscapes or vegetable gardens," McLaurin said.

Shred large leaves and twigs before using them as mulch. A
simple way to shred them is
to place them in small windrows, six to eight inches high and
two feet wide, on the lawn.
Then, with the lawn mower set for the highest cutting height,
run over them once or twice.

A grass catcher on the mower is handy for doing this. Some
companies sell mulch
attachments for lawn mowers.

Large limbs and stumps may require a mechanical grinder or
chipper. Check your local
government for recommendations on utilities, public works
departments and tree service
companies that provide this service.

A mixture of organic materials provides the best-looking,
most uniform mulch. Some
fine-textured mulches, like grass clippings, tend to mat and
decompose fast when used
alone.

To mulch properly, place three to four inches of mulch under
trees and shrubs. On newly
planted trees and shrubs, extend the mulched area at least six
inches beyond the canopy
spread.

Gradually expand the mulched area as the plant grows.

"The roots of established ornamental plants spread two
to three times the canopy
spread of the top, so mulch as large an areas as possible,"
McLaurin said.

Excess mulch can be used to insulate plants from winter
freeze, to line animal pens,
cover a garden path or line fence rows to prevent weeds.

Recycling nature’s riches saves precious landfill space,
which is at a premium in
Georgia. It returns nutrients to the soil and helps save
water.

During summers, when many counties face outdoor water
restrictions or bans, mulching
can save money, water and your landscape’s life.