After mowing the lawn, it’s tempting to bag and bin grass cuttings. But those clippings are packed with nutrients your garden can actually use. Instead of treating them like waste, consider recycling them right back into your plot.
Grass clippings contain valuable nutrients, many of the ones found in commercial fertiliser, including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which help root and green growth; flowering and fruiting. So not removing them can improve soil health, reduce waste, and even save you money (and time!).
One important note: If your lawn has been treated with herbicides or contains a significant number of weeds, be cautious about where you use the clippings. Herbicide residues can sometimes affect garden plants, kill beneficial organisms in compost and spread weed seeds to new areas.
Why grass clippings are beneficial
Fresh grass clippings are about 80 to 90% water and decompose quickly. As they break down, they release nutrients back into the soil, helping feed your lawn and garden naturally.
But that’s not the only benefit. Here are some things clippings do:
- Improve soil structure and moisture retention
- Reduce the need for synthetic fertilisers
- Add organic matter to garden beds
- Keep garden waste out of landfill
Option 1: Leave them on the lawn
The easiest option is to simply leave clippings where they fall after mowing.
This practice, often called "grass cycling', allows the clippings to decompose and return nutrients directly to the soil. They break down quickly and can provide a significant portion of your lawn’s nitrogen needs throughout the growing season.
And for an even better-looking lawn, don’t mow on a schedule; use the 1/3 rule instead.
Option 2: Use them as mulch
Grass clippings make an excellent mulch for vegetable gardens, flower beds and around shrubs.
Apply a layer 1 to 2 inches thick around plants to help:
- Suppress weeds
- Retain soil moisture
- Moderate soil temperatures
- Add nutrients as the clippings decompose
Be sure to allow fresh clippings to dry slightly before using them. Wet clippings can mat together and prevent water from reaching the soil.
While the clippings will eventually turn brown, many gardeners find the benefits outweigh the appearance. If the aesthetic is a concern, consider covering them with a thin layer of pine straw or pine bark nuggets.
Option 3: Add them to your compost pile
Grass clippings are a valuable “green” material in compost because they’re rich in nitrogen.
To create healthy compost, mix grass clippings with “brown” materials such as:
- Dry leaves
- Straw
- Shredded newspaper
- Small twigs
Avoid adding large piles of fresh clippings all at once because they can become compacted and develop unpleasant odours. A balanced mix of green and brown materials helps compost break down efficiently. Check out these tips on starting a compost heap.
Do you need a mulching lawn mower?
AL-KO 468 P-A Bio Push Petrol Mulching Lawn Mower
AL-KO 468 P-A Bio Push Petrol Mulching Lawn Mower
A mulching mower can help by cutting grass into smaller pieces that decompose more quickly, but it’s not required. Most standard lawn mowers can leave clippings on the lawn effectively, especially if you mow regularly.
If you frequently leave clippings behind or want to maximise nutrient recycling, a mulching mower can be a useful upgrade. However, homeowners can successfully grass cycle with most conventional mower models.
Lawnmower edit
Bosch UniversalRotak 34 cm Lawnmower
Flymo SimpliStore 340 Li 34cm Cordless Rotary Lawnmower- 40V
Charlyne Mattox is the Food and Crafts director with over 20 years recipe development, recipe editing, and crafting experience. Prior to starting at Country Living in 2014, she worked in the crafts department at Martha Stewart Living and Martha Stewart Kids before attending cooking school at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. She was nominated for a James Beard media award while a senior editor at Real Simple magazine and authored a cookbook Cooking with Seeds.
When not in the kitchen she loves to garden, focusing on growing flowers and kitchen herbs (of course), watering her 25 house plants, and knitting scarfs or hats she will never be able to wear in the always hot and steamy Alabama.
