Here are some facts about grass clippings:

• 1,000 square feet of bluegrass lawn generates about 200 pounds of clippings each year. 
• Yard waste makes up 20 percent of all debris sent to land fills.  
• Hauling yard waste to landfills is labor, energy and emissions intensive. 

A mulching mower solves these problems by cutting up all the clippings as you mow and depositing them on top of the lawn. 

Not only does mulching stop waste, it turns clippings into a green by-product that makes the lawn healthier.

• Clippings left on the grass provide additional shade and green matter that helps keep moisture in the  soil. Clippings are actually about 75 percent water.   
• Mulching is a water-saving process.  If you change to a mulching mower, be sure to decrease the amount of water from what you've usually applied to the lawn.  In some cases, this can be as much as half the amount. Monitor soil moisture and the weather and adjust accordingly.  
• Clippings are nitrogen-rich and will provide 25-30 percent of the nitrogen needs for the lawn.  Since nitrogen is the primary ingredient in fertilizer, that means you will need less fertilizer to achieve the same results.  
• Clippings break down rather quickly and that process encourages beneficial microorganisms and earthworms which also promote lawn health.

Mowing tip:  Unfortunately, many people sharpen their mower blade in the spring and forget about it the rest of the mowing season.  Be good to your grass and sharpen the blade about once a month.  A dull blade actually tears the blades of grass and can open the way to disease and other health issues.  Keep the blade sharp--and keep mulching!

Tip of the Week reprinted courtesy of Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado (ALCC) of which Harbor Landscape Company is a member. ALCC is the only professional organization for Colorado's landscape contracting industry statewide. Tip of the Week is copyrighted by Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado and may be forwarded or copied by its members provided proper credit is given to ALCC.