Pro tip: I stopped bagging my grass clippings after a job in Spokane last summer.

I was mowing a big lawn and filling up a dozen yard waste bags every week. The homeowner asked me to just leave the clippings on the lawn to feed the soil. I thought it would look messy, but after a month, the grass was actually greener and needed less water. Now I tell all my clients about it to cut down on plastic and fertilizer. Has anyone else seen good results from this?

3 comments

3 Comments

andrew_gonzalez881mo ago

That Spokane homeowner was onto something. I tried it on a few lawns last season, but I had one where the grass was really thick and it left clumps. Do you adjust your mowing schedule or blade height when you leave the clippings to avoid that matted look? I'm still figuring out the right balance.

graceblack1mo ago

Just mow more often when it's growing fast.

jessica_hernandez171mo ago

You mentioned adjusting your mowing schedule, but honestly, I just stick to the "one-third rule" no matter what. If the grass is too thick and long, mowing more often is the only fix that works for me. Raising the blade height can make it worse because you're leaving more plant to chop off. Those clumps happen when you cut off too much at once, so the grass has to be shorter before you start.