13 Ways to Use Your Grass Clippings in the Garden
You may not think of grass as a beneficial garden amendment, but I’m here to tell you it is! Join organic farmer Jenna Rich as she dives into some creative ways to upcycle your grass clippings and the benefits they offer.
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Grass is a waste byproduct of homeownership and lawn mowing, right? Think again! Grass clippings are a versatile and nutritious garden byproduct that gardens can use in many ways. Here are a few reasons to repurpose your grass clippings. They will:
- Suppress weeds
- Fertilize vegetables and flowers
- Improve soil over time
- Attract earthworms
- Promote microbial activity
- Help maintain soil temperature and moisture
- Protect root systems
- Save you money on fertilizer and lawn clipping bags
- Save time and energy
- Less waste!
Let’s learn about 13 unique ways to grass clippings in the garden.
Fill Those Raised Beds
One of the most cost-effective and eco-friendly ways to use grass clippings is by adding them to newly built raised beds in the fall. Layer it with decomposing logs, branches, trays of spent microgreens, and un-diseased garden debris. The organic matter will break down during the winter. Mix in aged manure, compost, topsoil, seed-starting mix, or a combination of these items in the spring.
Not only can you fill large raised beds without breaking the bank with this Hügelkultur method, but it also provides an economical way to reuse debris from your garden. Layering various materials in raised beds builds great soil and improves soil drainage, so overall, it’s a win-win.
Pro tip: To prevent settling around your crops, put large logs in each corner, fill in the cracks and crevices with compost or soil, then wet it all down. Continue adding green garden material, then your chosen seed-starting mix or potting soil. As the contents break down and the soil sinks, you may need to add an inch at the top.
Mulch
Grass clippings are just one of the various types of mulches available to home gardeners. Add them around garden beds and trees, in paths, or newly opened garden beds to prevent weeds from germinating and keep the soil from overheating in peak summer. The decomposing turf residues will attract earthworms and other decomposing insects, and as it breaks down, it will add nutrients to the soil. The nutrients will be available for your vegetable and flower gardens nearby.
Add To Your Worm Farm
As mentioned, turf trimmings supply a great source of protein, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to the soil, along with minerals like copper, magnesium, and sodium. Add selectively and balance it with brown materials to prevent anaerobic (stinky and low-oxygen) decomposition.
Pro tip: Worms will find grass more attractive if it has been drying for a few days.
Mulch Your Vegetable Gardens
Spread fresh lawn mower residues around newly transplanted vegetables to keep weed pressure down, protect vulnerable plant root systems, and help the soil maintain good moisture levels. Plus, as they break down, biomass and soil organic matter levels will increase, and nutrients will be available to the crops growing.
The smell may even deter some pests as a bonus!
Add to Compost
Grass clippings break down quickly, and add the required nitrogen to your compost pile. Balancing brown and green materials will prevent your pile from becoming stinky and too dense.
A hot compost pile should contain a ratio of 2:1 or 3:1 of brown to greens. Browns are dry material like straw, paper, and cardboard; greens like garden clippings, manure, and veggie scraps are fresh. The nitrogen from grass clippings will heat your compost pile to temperatures that allow it to break down and invite friendly microorganisms in.
Turn your pile often, regularly check the temperature, and add water. When done correctly, all the contents should transform into deep, rich compost in just a few weeks!
Leave in Place After Mowing
Instead of bagging up your grass clippings after mowing, remove the mower bag and allow the residues to fall in place. As they break down, nutrients will be released, serving as fertilizer for your lawn. Decomposing turf trimmings can provide up to 25% of the nutrients your lawn needs.
This method saves you money on fertilizer, lawn bags, and your back, lifting the heavy bags, and saves you time and effort. Use a simple push mower or attach a mulch plug to your electric mower for the best results.
Missouri banned grass clippings and leaves from going into their landfills in 1992, encouraged their citizens to leave them in place, and explained the benefits offered. Their statewide program is called “Don’t Bag It” and is still in place today.
Mulch Houseplants
While it might seem odd, you can use grass clippings to mulch indoor plants the same way you do with outdoor garden beds. Toss a handful into each pot to cover the surface before watering to keep the moisture in.
The turf trimmings will break down and provide nutrients to your plants. Take note of how they do with clippings versus your usual houseplant feed and adjust as needed.
Pro tip: Add “mulch houseplants” to your to-do list before leaving on vacation so you can rest assured they won’t dry out in your absence.
Make a Liquid Fertilizer
If you think the sight of grass atop your houseplants won’t fit into your home’s aesthetics, soak it in water for several weeks and make liquid fertilizer concentrate.
- Fill a bucket about ⅔ full with clippings.
- Cover them almost fully with water.
- Cover the bucket and store in a barn or basement, away from direct sunlight and extreme heat.
- Stir daily for two weeks.
- Use within one to two days by mixing the solution with water at a 1:10 part ratio.
Pro tip: Add a little comfrey before steeping and worm castings before the application for a nutritious boost.
Make Natural Dye
Green is the most challenging color to create when dyeing fabrics yourself, but you can achieve it by mixing in various browns and yellows and some trial and error. Grass clippings are a free way to experiment with making garden-fresh fabric dye.
Fill a pot with clippings and soak them in water overnight. Bring the water to a boil, then simmer for over an hour until the water is tinted yellowish-green. Strain out the grass and discard. Add a mordant so the dye will adhere to your fabric. Mordants can be iron, tin, or a form of aluminum.
Feed Livestock
Fresh-cut grass is a highly nutritious add-on to livestock’s diet, notably sheep. A Colorado State University Cooperative Extension study concluded that grass clippings “can be effectively and safely utilized as inexpensive, renewable feed sources.” After about a half day, the grass will begin fermenting and is no longer safe for them to eat.
Feeding livestock chemically-treated turf is not recommended.
Use As Bedding For Small Pets
After you offer a snack of fresh clippings to your bunnies, mice, and guinea pigs, dry them for a few days, then use them as bedding to freshen up their cages. Consider also using them to freshen up your chicken’s coop. Use them in small amounts because too much may have negative effects. Grass is high in sugar which could cause bodily harm if small animals eat too much of it.
Pro tip: Chop the residues into small pieces to avoid chicken crop compaction or small critter choking hazards.
Offer To Community Gardens or Compost Centers
If you can’t repurpose all your grass clippings, post them online to community gardens and gardening clubs. They’ll likely appreciate the free garden amendment and mulch.
Pro tip: Disclose any herbicides and pesticides used before sharing or avoid spraying.
Take To A Local Recycling Center
Bagging up turf trimmings and transporting them to a recycling center is always an option. Contact your area municipalities to ensure you purchase approved bags before bagging your clippings up. Some towns give bags out for free, so call and inquire! Then, either transport them to a recycling center or call for a local pickup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can grass clippings cause weeds to spread in my garden?
Yes, this is one of the pitfalls of reusing grass clippings in gardens. If you have high weed pressure and want to avoid this, compost the grass clippings first. Then, use the mulch around vegetables, garden beds, and trees and shrubs.
Will grass clippings add nutrients to my soil?
Yes, grass contains vitamins A, B, and D, folic acid, minerals like magnesium, copper, manganese, sodium, zinc, protein, and carbohydrates. Nutrients become available as the grass breaks down. The shorter and younger the grass, the higher the nutrients.
