Most lawn mowers come with a grass catcher attachment at their opening to help catch the grass clippings as they’re being mowed. Other mowers, however, have an opening in the rear or side of the housing where the cut grass is thrown out.
The first type of mower leaves your yard looking clean and fresh. Yet, with the second type, the lawn is left covered in finely shredded grass clippings, making it look disheveled and unkempt.
Believe it or not, your plants, grass included, would actually prefer the second type.
Why? Well, because when these clippings are evenly distributed, they help fertilize and nourish the grass, giving way to a fresh lawn of healthy, bright green grass.
Interested in learning more about how, why, and when to mulch? Let’s get started.
How to Mulch Grass with a Lawn Mower
The easiest way to mulch with a mower is to use a mulching mower. This mower is designed to expel the grass clippings directly on the ground as you’re mowing, leaving behind a layer of all-natural fertilizer for your lawn.
You can also use a mower with a grass catcher attachment.
Only then you’ll have to mow the entire yard as you normally would. Then, when you’re done, you’ll have to remove the grass catcher from the mower and empty it over the lawn.
Make sure to spread it evenly in thin layers of no more than 1 or 2 inches over the majority of the lawn. Leaving behind thick layers of mulch may force the moist clippings to clump together, which lowers the breathability of the soil and prevents the grass from getting the sunlight and nutrients it needs to thrive.
How to Mulch Leaves into Your Lawn
Almost all types of tree leaves can be safely turned into mulch to boost the nutrient content of the soil. For example, mulch made from beech, birch, and maple leaves are all safe to use in large quantities.
The few that can only be used in small amounts are leaves that come from nut-producing trees, such as oak and walnut. The reason for this is that these leaves contain high amounts of tannic acid, which may affect the nutritional balance of the soil, leading to weak or diseased grass.
If you decide to use tree leaves as mulch, that doesn’t mean just spreading them around and calling it a day. Spreading the leaves in large chunks will prevent sunlight from reaching the soil, as well as reduce its breathability.
That’s why we recommend using a shredder, a mulcher, a grass trimmer, or even your mower to cut up the leaves into small bits before spreading them in a thin layer over the lawn.
This organic mulch will naturally decompose into the soil, providing your grass with protection and a natural way to boost its organic content. At the same time, it’ll help improve the drainage and overall structure of your lawn.
When Is the Best Time to Mulch
Mulching is a natural way to add much-needed benefits to your lawn. So, it’s safe to mulch each time you mow.
Then, during the times when you don’t mow as frequently, you can manually spread a layer of mulch over the lawn as often as once every 7–14 days.
For both newbie and seasoned mulchers, the best time to start mulching is always during the warmer months. Since you should be mowing regularly during these months anyway, then mulching should be quick and easy.
Plus, this is when your grass is at its healthiest and growing at a much more rapid pace compared to the colder months.
How Tall Should Grass Be to Mulch
The rule of thumb when mulching grass is to never remove a third of the grass leaf. In other words, for the most part, your grass should be at a maximum length of three inches before you can safely mulch.
Otherwise, it’ll produce an abundance of thick grass clippings, which may harm the health of your lawn and the soil underneath it.
Here’s a handy guide to help remind you of the ideal grass length for each season:
- For most of the season: keep your grass at an optimal length of around 3 inches
- In extreme heat, allow the grass to grow up to 4 inches tall to increase its resistance
- In the fall, keep the grass at no higher than 2 inches to facilitate clean-up and boost nutrient intake
Is Mulching Leaves Good or Bad for Your Lawn?
There are several benefits to mulching your lawn, as well as a couple of drawbacks. Take a look.
Pros
The most obvious benefit to mulching is that it provides the soil with an organic fertilizer in the form of finely shredded grass clippings.
It also prevents weeds from growing or spreading. It also helps protect the soil from extreme drought if it hasn’t rained for an extended period as well as extreme temperatures.
Furthermore, mulching helps cut down on the cost of fertilizer. Plus, since mulch is all-natural and organic and doesn’t contain any chemical products, it’s also good for the environment.
Another benefit to mulching is that, in addition to saving you money, mulching, especially when done via a mulch mower, helps save you time. Instead of cleaning up loose grass clippings after each mow or emptying the grass catcher attachment, you can simply let the grass clippings lie where they land.
Cons
The biggest drawback can only occur if you end up adding too much mulch. Over-mulching creates a barrier that prevents air and water from reaching the soil.
This often leads to waterlogged soil, which causes root rot and other fungal diseases.
Another disadvantage is that mulch can trap heat in the soil, leading to temperature fluctuations. While this can be a good thing during the colder months, it can be deadly in the summer, especially for plants with shallow roots like grass.
When NOT to Mulch
Even though mulching has numerous benefits, at times, it can be detrimental to the health of your lawn.
Take a look.
Tall Grass
The worst time to mulch your lawn is when your grass is taller than three inches.
If you mulch with taller grass, you’ll end up creating thicker layers of grass clippings. While they still get shredded properly, the layer will be too thick for the soil to receive enough sunlight and air to develop as it should, which means it’s not getting the proper nutrients for optimal growth.
Wet Grass
Anyone who has mowed a lawn before knows that wet grass tends to clump together. Therefore, mowing when the grass is wet will cause the clippings to stick to the mower deck rather than spread out evenly across the yard.
And those clumps of wet clippings that manage to find their way to the soil may be detrimental to the health of your plants.
That’s why you should always start mulching when the grass is dry. This allows the clippings to spread more evenly across the lawn and not form clumps. It also makes it easier for them to sink down between the blades of grass and reach the soil to further boost its nutrient content.
Keep in mind that, if your yard is mostly shaded, the grass will remain wet for longer compared to a lawn that gets direct sunlight for most of the day.
If this is the case with your lawn, then we recommend using a conventional mower rather than a mulch mower. Then, once the grass has fully dried, you can spread a layer of homemade mulch where needed.
Weed Infestation
If your lawn is going through a weed infestation, like chickweed and dandelions, mulching will only work to spread them further via a process known as seed dispersal. The best thing you can do in this scenario is to remove the weeds completely before mulching.
Otherwise, you’ll need to bag all grass clippings and avoid adding mulch of any kind as it can spread the weed infestation to other parts of your lawn.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to mulch your lawn is a great way to save time and money. It also allows you to provide your plans with the best care possible.
So, if you haven’t been mulching your lawn, consider this no-fuss technique to ensure your grass is getting the nutrients and protection it needs to grow and thrive.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
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