Do you collect the clippings? And what to do with them?

[buffalonick]

Ok i want some info for a new business i am going to starrt in spring. Do most of you guys collect your lawn clippings or just mulch them and leave them on the lawn? Do you charge extra to collect and dispose of them? And also how do you dispose of all the clippings?

[1993lx172]

If I collect the clippings I take them home and compost them and use the compost in the garden.

[Runner]

They don't bag Wrigley outfield, they don't bag Yankee Stadium, they don't bag Pebble beach fairways, and they don't bag Warwick Hills.

[FYS777]

They don't bag Wrigley outfield, they don't bag Yankee Stadium, they don't bag Pebble beach fairways, and they don't bag Warwick Hills.

ya but they mow them 2 or three times a week to, so they don't have the longer grass to deal with, also

[White Gardens]

I never bag the clippings regardless of how bad it is.

If it is bad, I mow twice, then take the leaf blower and make them disappear.

Bagged lawn clippings rob the lawn of nutrients it will receive from the clippings. Besides, it's a pain to deal with the clippings.

[clcare2]

I keep a few souveniors but I wouldn't say I collect them.

[borwicks]

depends on the yard. Ones that have lots of landscaping where i cant side discharge i will. if the grass is to tall i will as well. i take them to recycling center. it cost $20 per ton. I dont use mulching plates or any of that. Grass grows to fast and tall here for mulching once a week.

[borwicks]

I never bag the clippings regardless of how bad it is.

If it is bad, I mow twice, then take the leaf blower and make them disappear.

Bagged lawn clippings rob the lawn of nutrients it will receive from the clippings. Besides, it's a pain to deal with the clippings.

I would mow once with bagger and be done. save fuel, wear and tear on equipment. The nutrients lost are very little. When I pull soil samples the lawns we bag vs the lawns we dont, have almost the same makeup. More nutrients are lost to over watering. If its so tall you have to bag, someones putting down to much nitrogen.

[White Gardens]

I would mow once with bagger and be done. save fuel, wear and tear on equipment. The nutrients lost are very little. When I pull soil samples the lawns we bag vs the lawns we dont, have almost the same makeup. More nutrients are lost to over watering. If its so tall you have to bag, someones putting down to much nitrogen.

What about wear and tear on you and your truck as you haul it away??? It could go either way.

30% of lawn nutrients come from the recycled clippings. That translate to 30% less fertilizer to put down.

[FYS777]

I never bag the clippings regardless of how bad it is.

If it is bad, I mow twice, then take the leaf blower and make them disappear.

Bagged lawn clippings rob the lawn of nutrients it will receive from the clippings. Besides, it's a pain to deal with the clippings.

the way i look at it is, if you have to mow twice then blow the whole lawn you just mowed, you should be charging triple cost, plus with that much grass trying to go back into the lawn does not have time to decompose resulting in thatch build up, not good. and the never bag is funny, most places were i am need bagging half the season because of needles and leaves that fall off the trees. if and when you do bag there are places to take them, land fills, and such, ask some other lco's that you see in your area were they take there debris.

[borwicks]

Thatch is not caused by clippings.

[FYS777]

Thatch is not caused by clippings.

here is a paragraph from this site,

Thatch is a building up dead roots, lawn debris and dead turfgrass crowns. It accumulates as these plant parts buildup faster than they breakdown. Thatch problems are due to a combination of biological, cultural, and environmental factors. Cultural practices can have a big impact on thatch. For example, heavy nitrogen fertilizer applications or over-watering frequently contribute to thatch, because they cause the lawn to grow excessively fast. Avoid over-fertilizing and over-watering Despite popular belief, short clippings dropped on the lawn after mowing are not the cause of thatch buildup. Clippings are very high in water content and breakdown rapidly when returned to lawns after mowing, assuming lawns are mowed on a regular basis (not removing more than one-third of the leaf blade).

http://www.american-lawns.com/problems/thatch.html

so you see it can contribute to the thatch if there is to much clippings being put back into the lawn that does'nt have time to decompose.

[borwicks]

point taken. In my studies the root cause is to much nitrogen and over watering. combine that with no bagging and you can get thatch.

[FYS777]

point taken. In my studies the root cause is to much nitrogen and over watering. combine that with no bagging and you can get thatch.

I totally agree, :)