Glad to see advice backed up by good research and not by how someone feels. I bag just about like you do. Another time I like to bag is after a big rain and I have my neighbor's dead grass clippings collect and weed seeds deposit onto my beautiful lawn👿. I try to mow every 3-4 days during the early spring and summer, and it really helps the clippings break down much faster. Knowledge is power. Thanks.
Agree totally .. really everything you said is common sense .. which I guess is not common today .. I’ve always believed in the science you speak of .. thanks for spreading the truly simple truth ..!
Unless you've let the lawn grow excessively long, or the clippings are in thick clumps, grass clippings are a good source of nutrients regardless of the type of grass you have. I agree 100%. Keep up the good work man!
I learned so much from this video that I didn't know before, especially about the weeds and disease one. I usually bag for the 1st and last cut of the year just to keep things nice and clean up in Northern Illinois. If it gets overgrown I usually side discharge my first pass and then take a look after the cut. If theirs not too many clippings I make a second pass mulching them up or if theirs a lot then I make a second pass with the bag. It might be more work but I enjoy being out in the lawn so it doesn't bother me
Thanks bud. I should have clarified in the video but the thoughts on weed spreading are mine and not in the article. I’ve just not bought into that one. If you’re doing other weed control right, you shouldn’t be worried about it. I like your technique man. Got it figured out for what works best for you 👊 thanks again brother.
I hear what you are saying, but at the end of the day, I like the cleanliness of the cut from bagging. It's subtle... slightly more lift, slightly more suction, slightly better cut quality with my current mower. When we start getting in to the drier parts of the summer and growth slows down a pinch I mulch it, but generally speaking I consider myself a bagger these days.
I mulch my clippings and my yard is by far the neatest in my neighborhood. I have no clumps on my yard, no clippings in my mulch beds, and the lawn looks like shag carpet. I mow 2-3 times a week depending on how fast the grass is growing. I bet if you increased the frequency of your mowing and/or raised your mowing height you would still maintain a neat looking yard, return vital nutrients to your soil, and save yourself the hassle of dumping/bagging the clippings. I understand you have good results bagging- but from my experience mulching, mowing higher, and more frequently has made a huge difference in my results. Just my 2 cents- we all have different approaches and different yards, so go with whatever works best for you.
Not being a jerk but sounds like you just need a good mulching mower. No one even knows when we run our Recycler kits over their lawn, that we didnt bag, unless they watch it
I just recently switched from bagging to mulching. I’ll only bag if it’s too tall and I’ve noticed it does a better job at holding moisture in the 105° Texas heat
I never bag my clippings when I scalp in the early spring (bermuda grass). Just hit it with several passes with the mulching blade and it turns to dust/powder. My first few mows in the spring, on the lowest deck setting, eliminate any clumps/stripes of clippings that form in the yard due to rain runoff.
I agree with absolutely everything you said, and you actually taught me something in this one. I always mulch my clippings too but i thought they do contribute to grass thatch build up. Great video thank you.
Good info! I only bag the back so the kids don't bring clippings in with them when they play after I mow. For the front lawn, give me that free fertilizer!
Great Video. Love it because I hate bagging! I use the University of GA guidelines for my Bermuda and Fescue and they have not let me down yet. Clemson has some good info also for those of us in the Southeast. Not to mention some folks dump the bagged clippings into the garbage. You could say they are throwing away money in my opinion!
This is my first season mulching and have been doing it regularly. Found putting a better mulching blade on (gator) helped tremendously in breaking them down even smaller. I do two passes on the lawn and can’t even identify the clippings after. Unrelated, are you a preacher as well? Strong preacher vibes with your rhythm and speech cadence. Makes me enjoy your videos even more 😁 Thanks for the great content - God bless
Great info! Appreciate you sharing that. Good to know. I try to get 2 passes in as well. Makes a difference. Haha, no, I'm not. But I hear that all the time. I've spent time in TV before and am a teacher now. Maybe that has something to do with it. Glad you enjoy it. Appreciate you watching and the feedback!
I moved to a new house 4 years ago where the soil is very Sandy. I bagged during every cut the first 3 years. I noticed my yard thinning out and the grass health just looked bad. His year I started mulching and not bagging and have found my Bermuda and Centipede grass health in crease and spread without adding more fertilizer. I also think by badging I was removing not just the clipping but soil which in turn destroyed my overall soil health!
Thanks for the informative video. I always thought I had to collect the grass when I'm cutting grass with fungus and clean my mower and blades in between cut. I was just about to do that. Would've been a pain in the butt since I mow every 3-4 days. Thanks again.
You’re welcome. Thank you for watching and commenting. Glad it helps. I’ve learned that a little extra research from the the pros has saved me big time. Most, if not all, of what I share on the channel is learned from that extension office or just pure experience. I’ve never had a problem with any of these things and never bag. Thanks again.
If you follow the 1/3 rule, then you never need to bag. This might mean you need to mow 2 or 3 times a week- especially in the spring or whenever your grass is growing fast. Another problem is most people mow too low, I see it everywhere. I think there is a misconception that mowing lower is neater while mowing higher leaves the lawn shaggy. But I've come around and on my fescue/KGB lawn found that mowing high and mowing more often still leaves the lawn looking neat- and if you edge your sidewalk and driveway at least once a week- it makes for a striking, beautiful edge due to the height of the grass. Only time I bag is if I can't maintain my mowing schedule due to weather/vacation/ or other reasons. Basically any time the grass is so high it would leave clumps if I tried to mulch. MY rules are: mow high, mow often, keep your blade sharp (underrated but critical), and mow in a different direction every time. I suggest if you find your mower bogging down often or if visible clumps of clippings remain on the lawn after you mow- raise your height and mow more often. Your grass will thank you and reward you with a healthier, greener lawn.
Great info. You nailed it. Thank you for watching and all your comments. I appreciate you getting involved in the conversation with more great feedback 👍👍.
Like you pointed out besides all the benefits to mulching is the saving of time and the hassle. I only bag for for the late falling leaves and before over-seeding fescue. It just wears me out physically and mentally when bagging.
I have a Honda HRX that allows me to set a level between mulch/bag. Since I have a TTTF lawn at 4”, I do a 60/40 setting of mulch to bag to get the benefit of better lift and nutrients returning.
I just put new sod in my back yard, coming up on 3 weeks and getting ready for my first mow. In another video you said to mow at about 3 weeks, should I bag, mulch or side discharge?
north Alabama(Tall Fescue) here, i always bag the first cut of the season due to snow mold chance, but I mulch it for use in the spring garden in May. just moved into a new home and have more focused on hand picking weed mitigation (a right pain in the rear) just due to living in a completely new grow zone and finding out on my own what weeds are handled with post-emergent. i could go to the co-op and ask but I'm in it for the long game and learning on my own thru self-research. Also, lignin is the plant's empty cellular structure ie the grass version of wood.
I like your style. Being in for the long haul and learning along the way is what it's all about. I hate to see so many people playing the right now game. And thanks for the lignin clarification. Appreciate that. Appreciate ya watching and commenting as well. Congrats on the new home and good luck.
I love it when people, bag their clippings and take them to the City disposal site. I take them home and use them in my composter, and spread them as mulch on top of my garden.
This is some great information. I have KGB and believed some of those myths myself, particularly the one about spreading disease. Just wanted to confirm, can I mulch grass clippings even if I am fighting off existing melting out/leaf spots? Thanks for your research!
Thank you. I mean you can decide if you want to but I never bag, disease or not. Based on the article, it won’t hurt either way. Thanks again. Appreciate ya watching and commenting.
2lbs/N per year? That’s insane! Better than a overpriced bag of fert lol I only bag while I have poa. It’s been an uphill battle the last 2 years even with my pre m strategy and it’s too hard to hand pick all that pop up. Good info. Thanks brotha
@@BudgetLawns yeah man, it sucks big time.. still got a lot with all the moisture we’ve had.. i gave up bagging a few weeks ago. Screw it. Oh and the ones that want to argue with a legit scientist… comical.
Thank you for sharing the abundance of info!! Haha, my city actually had an ordinance about bagging our clippings. There’s an older guy who lives in my neighborhood who I’ve heard reports of driving around and taking pictures of people who don’t bag their clippings and sending them to code enforcement. My solution? I mow at high noon when this West Texas heat is bearing down at a crisp 102+ degrees. It’s too hot for him to be out nosing around and I’ve never seen him drive by me! 👍🏽🤣
Ain't that the truth. Seems like people these days only react out of emotion and not because it makes sense. Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
And here is a quote from the University of Minnesota "As a general rule, grass clippings of an inch or less in length can be left on your lawn where they will filter down to the soil surface and decompose quickly. Remove longer clippings because they can shade or smother grass beneath causing lawn damage." "Remove clippings if the lawn is heavily infested with diseases such as leaf spot, rust or dollar spot to help reduce disease severity. If the lawn is wet or the grass has become too tall when you mow, clippings can mat together and smother the grass." Should you bag clippings. A resounding “no” is the answer from A.J. Powell Jr., Extension turf specialist with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. But read his report and understand the conditions and I quote "Clippings normally do not increase disease problems when the lawn is properly mowed by removing no more than one-third to one-half of the grass growth at a time. When grass is correctly mowed, clippings will be evenly dispersed rather than forming a windrow on the surface. Two other misconceptions Powell dispelled are that people must use “mulching mowers” if they don’t collect clippings and they must mow and collect or rake clippings if the lawn gets too tall. “Any rotary, side-discharge mower with a sharp blade will cut clippings into short lengths and do an excellent job of dispersing them,” he said. “Of course you’ll still need to follow the one-third to one-half grass removal rule, and this might mean mowing more frequently than you have been doing. In my experience, hands down, lawns that are not mowed often and correctly look much better when bagged. In Texas 80% of homeowners hire for biweekly service without bagging, these yards are mowed to a specific height regardless of growth, mowed no matter the weather conditions and mowed with blade quality of the day. And frankly never look great All of these University reports will tell you, do not mulch wet grass, do not mulch overgrown grass(1/3 rule) do not mulch when weeds are present. When your yard is properly cared for mulching is an important aspect of that care. Hands down my personal properties and properties of weekly clients look fantastic when mulched once to twice out of every 4 mows. No science to back it up just experience.
Experience is always the best deciding factor. Good stuff. Thank you for sharing. This video is definitely talking to folks who are following best mowing practices and not those who don't care. The article linked touches on a lot of those other "rules". Lawn care definitely has a lot of if this and if that scenarios to go through. But like you said, experience always give you the best answer. That's how I operate as well. Appreciate ya watching and giving some great feedback.
So, I’m still stuck on bagging my clipping mainly due to trying to keeps weeds from spreading. My lawn was newly sodded a bit over a month ago and I’ve been warned against spraying anything for weeds this first season. I’ve been hand picking the weeds, but, of course, never get all of them. Any thoughts on this situation?
I'm in the same boat you are. New construction, bermuda sod lawn that was laid dormant back in December. Not going to use a weed killer this first year and doing some hand picking. I'm still not bagging though. Even mulching up weeds along with the grass is going to add a lot of organic matter back to the lawn, which will help enrich the poor soil that was there when the sod was laid. By bagging you're just taking that away. I've done this before and getting rid of the weeds wasn't an issue. Don't sweat that. Congrats on the new lawn. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching.
Now that's a good joke 😂😂😂. Thanks bud. It's recovering. Posted an update pic last night. I'm tearing it up in other spots a little at a time. Still carving out future flower beds when I get a little time to. Appreciate ya as always.
So on my push mower I’ve been consistently mowing about every five days on the Second lowest out of six settings. Will I need to scalp it at a level one at some point for a height of cut if I’m able to consistently maintain cutting about every five days? What is that height of cut reset for and is it always needed?
HOC resets aren’t necessary. Just something to clean things up for the later part of the summer. Here’s a vid I did all about it. ua-cam.com/video/DRjCabQar0A/v-deo.html Hope it helps answer your questions. Appreciate ya watching.
Have been mulching for 4 decades, but it doesn't always save time. At least not on-site. operating from a dump truck and having a convenient composting location for end-of-day dumping, its faster to bag until conditions are keen for mulch kits. Knowing that, I still opt to mulch/shred though. A double pass here or there and a couple minutes with a blower are worth not having stinky grass in my trucks. 😆
You can bag your grass clippings if you want to in Canada but figuring out what to do with them is the issue in most municipalities. You can’t dispose in the trash OR with the garden waste (plant material, branches etc.). Mulching into the grass is best!
@@BudgetLawns Here too we can put out for pick up in the brown paper bags but if you include grass clippings with your other organics, they reject everything for that week.
Hey brother sorry to be off topic but I need some advice. All of a sudden for the first time in four years I went outside and Japanese beetles are swarming me . I’ve taken care of my tree with 7 but I see them going into my Bermuda. Last year I got hit with army worms so I want to knock these things out asap. I bought spectracide insect granules but it’s really dusty and I worry about it being too harsh on the grass. Any thoughts? Thank you.
No worries man. Japanese beetles aren't fun. From my experience, though, they didn't impact my lawn. They really stayed isolated to my rose bush and would destroy it if I wasn't ahead of the game. I used the Bio Advanced Rose and Flower Care. It did great to move them along from my yard or kill them if I was late. Hope this helps. If you don't have luck with the Spectracide look into the Bio Advanced stuff. Thanks for watching.
I feel that new electric mowers don’t mulch well compared to gas. I still prefer the electric for many other reasons, and I still mulch, but I feel that dethatching is necessary after a few months of mulching with an electric mower on tall fescue.
Hmm interesting about the electric mowers. Good to know. At the end of the day, ya always gotta do what works best for you. Thanks for watching and commenting.
My 7 year old likes to tell me to bag all the time, because we did at the old house but since I have been watching you I have only mulched, and he can’t stand it lol.
I'd only bag if you have a problem with unwanted coarse clumping fescue Because you can't kill it with selective herbicides only non selective like Roundup, and I'm pretty sure it spreads by mowing.
LOL. I wish it was! I'd be in heaven. Storing up some rocks as I tear out sod for flower beds. Who knows, may find a good use for them. Thank you for watching.
I have been mowing lawns for about 65 years, and currently have St Augustine, Bermuda, Centipede, Carpet Grass, and Bahia over several acres of my property. I mow it all basically the same and I never worry about weeds. Some folks are too anal (OCD) about weeds. A thick lawn will make them go bye-bye, so do not poison your soil with a bunch of pre and post emergent, that will result in many different diseases. KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) and you will have a happy and healthy soil, with a happy and healthy lawn. Leave all those chemicals at the store and quit wasting time and money on them. Organic fertilizers really do wonders for the health of the soil - and the lawn. Also, a good application of compost and/or humus during the winter will also do wonders for Mr. Grass. And ... it is much more drought tolerant. It is now 100 degrees and very dry at my place and the lawn looks fine.
Bingo. Weeds are just part of it. No sense in worrying about them. Do everything else right and they’ll go away. Great feedback here. Appreciate ya adding this to the conversation. Really good info. Thanks so much.
Amen, brother. I agree- the best weed defense is to go on offense by promoting the thickest, healthiest lawn. I also hate the idea of throwing poison on my yard- a few years back I bought into the philosophy of organic fert and building up the soil organically and have been thrilled with the results. I stopped stressing about a few weeds here and there- I just pull them up or MAYBE just do some light spot spraying with weed-b-gone.
We've known since 1967 when the university published papers saying that mulching doesnt cause thatch or compacting. It's fun to debate, but purely scientifically, we know the answer. If you like the clean look of a bagged lawn... go for it.
Nope! 😂😂😂 I reel mow with a Mclane and it would be a mess if I didnt use the grass catcher! The grass just doesnt break down fast enough. Good vid tho!
2 lbs per nitrogen per year is what's recommended for my cenipede. That's why I only have to fertilize only once per season. All though I do add other nutrients like iron and humic acid.
@@BudgetLawns thanx for responding i have mostly tttf and little salad bar mix cut mine twice a week try to keep it at 3 inso ive been bagging every other time next yr I'll cut back on the bagging
Haha, thanks buddy. I'm sure there are people that don't like hearing that stuff cause it goes against what they're told over and over on UA-cam. Even still, other lawn tubers will keep preaching the same things, true or not. Thanks again bro!
Yeah well now my neighbor will continue to scalp once a week and leave huge clumps of grass all over his lawn and cooks the grass. So don’t bag if you keep the 1/3rd rule.
There’s always that one right? As long as we stay dialed in on what we want, that’s all that matters. He just makes you look even better lol. Appreciate ya watching. 👊
So many variables to this advice. If you don't mow frequently because no time, then no. If your yard has too many weeds, then no, etc. "Science" and "Educated" respect those variables. It's not one size fits all and it's not "research backed" if you don't take those things into consideration. I know you mentioned them, but it gets lost in the effort to say you're right.
There's not one piece of universal advice about lawn care on UA-cam. At some point, people have to take ownership of their own situations and dig deeper to find out what's best for them. They'll never find it in one place.
@BudgetLawns info was great. I have not bagged my lawn in two years. But have had Reservations about it. Definitely feel more comfortable. But I have a huge thatch problem (Prior to my experiment).
Glad to see advice backed up by good research and not by how someone feels. I bag just about like you do. Another time I like to bag is after a big rain and I have my neighbor's dead grass clippings collect and weed seeds deposit onto my beautiful lawn👿. I try to mow every 3-4 days during the early spring and summer, and it really helps the clippings break down much faster. Knowledge is power. Thanks.
Thank you. Glad ya enjoyed the video. I like your game plan. Keep up the good work. Appreciate ya watching and commenting!
Agree totally .. really everything you said is common sense .. which I guess is not common today .. I’ve always believed in the science you speak of .. thanks for spreading the truly simple truth ..!
👊👊 appreciate you watching and commenting.
Unless you've let the lawn grow excessively long, or the clippings are in thick clumps, grass clippings are a good source of nutrients regardless of the type of grass you have. I agree 100%. Keep up the good work man!
Thanks dude. Appreciate ya!
I feel like I'm wasting even when I collect when scalping for a sand leveling. If mowing often, no reason to catch them. Thanks for the video buddy!
I'm right there with ya bro. Mulch away. Thanks for the feedback buddy. Good luck again on that sand project!
I learned so much from this video that I didn't know before, especially about the weeds and disease one. I usually bag for the 1st and last cut of the year just to keep things nice and clean up in Northern Illinois. If it gets overgrown I usually side discharge my first pass and then take a look after the cut. If theirs not too many clippings I make a second pass mulching them up or if theirs a lot then I make a second pass with the bag. It might be more work but I enjoy being out in the lawn so it doesn't bother me
Thanks bud. I should have clarified in the video but the thoughts on weed spreading are mine and not in the article. I’ve just not bought into that one. If you’re doing other weed control right, you shouldn’t be worried about it. I like your technique man. Got it figured out for what works best for you 👊 thanks again brother.
I’m with you man. I read that same exact piece online and agree 100% with everything you said as well. Thanks for the great advice like always.
Thanks man. Hard to argue with the experts from the article haha. Appreciate ya watching and commenting.
I hear what you are saying, but at the end of the day, I like the cleanliness of the cut from bagging. It's subtle... slightly more lift, slightly more suction, slightly better cut quality with my current mower. When we start getting in to the drier parts of the summer and growth slows down a pinch I mulch it, but generally speaking I consider myself a bagger these days.
I get that too. Some folks just like that cleaner look. Nothing wrong with that. Thanks for watching and adding that topic!
I mulch my clippings and my yard is by far the neatest in my neighborhood. I have no clumps on my yard, no clippings in my mulch beds, and the lawn looks like shag carpet. I mow 2-3 times a week depending on how fast the grass is growing. I bet if you increased the frequency of your mowing and/or raised your mowing height you would still maintain a neat looking yard, return vital nutrients to your soil, and save yourself the hassle of dumping/bagging the clippings. I understand you have good results bagging- but from my experience mulching, mowing higher, and more frequently has made a huge difference in my results. Just my 2 cents- we all have different approaches and different yards, so go with whatever works best for you.
I have a Ryobi battery mower,if I want to mulch,I gotta change my blade or what?
A lot of mowers come ready to mulch. You’ll just need to check your manual to see if it’s a mulching mower.
Not being a jerk but sounds like you just need a good mulching mower. No one even knows when we run our Recycler kits over their lawn, that we didnt bag, unless they watch it
I just recently switched from bagging to mulching. I’ll only bag if it’s too tall and I’ve noticed it does a better job at holding moisture in the 105° Texas heat
👊👊 Right on! That's good. Anything to hold in moisture in that heat helps. Appreciate ya watching and the comment!
I never bag my clippings when I scalp in the early spring (bermuda grass). Just hit it with several passes with the mulching blade and it turns to dust/powder. My first few mows in the spring, on the lowest deck setting, eliminate any clumps/stripes of clippings that form in the yard due to rain runoff.
I like it. So many ways to accomplish a goal. Appreciate ya watching and sharing!
Great video. Speaking truth from the University extension service is a great idea. No super juice, no boutique fertilizer. Thanks.
Thanks bud. That’s right. I’m surprised someone isn’t pushing a boutique bag at this point. 😂 appreciate ya watching and the feedback!👊
This all applies to cool season turf as well. I have a lawn comprised of 4 different KBG cultivars. I stand behind this study 110%
Fantastic. Great info to know. Appreciate that. Thanks for watching. 👊
I agree with absolutely everything you said, and you actually taught me something in this one. I always mulch my clippings too but i thought they do contribute to grass thatch build up. Great video thank you.
Awesome. Glad it helped. Appreciate ya watching and the feedback!
Good info! I only bag the back so the kids don't bring clippings in with them when they play after I mow. For the front lawn, give me that free fertilizer!
Thanks man. I can see that. Getting the best of both worlds. Appreciate ya watching. 👊
Great Video. Love it because I hate bagging! I use the University of GA guidelines for my Bermuda and Fescue and they have not let me down yet. Clemson has some good info also for those of us in the Southeast. Not to mention some folks dump the bagged clippings into the garbage. You could say they are throwing away money in my opinion!
Thanks buddy. I’d say the same thing. You got it figured out with the extension offices. They’re the way to go. Thanks again bro.
I always find your videos extremely helpful as I start my lawn care journey…thanks
Fantastic. Great to hear. Thank you for sharing that. Appreciate you supporting the channel.
One thing I’ve noticed with Bermuda is the grass look greener when you bag even following the 1/3 rule. This has been my experience.
Thanks for watching and the feedback.
This is my first season mulching and have been doing it regularly. Found putting a better mulching blade on (gator) helped tremendously in breaking them down even smaller. I do two passes on the lawn and can’t even identify the clippings after.
Unrelated, are you a preacher as well? Strong preacher vibes with your rhythm and speech cadence. Makes me enjoy your videos even more 😁
Thanks for the great content - God bless
Great info! Appreciate you sharing that. Good to know. I try to get 2 passes in as well. Makes a difference.
Haha, no, I'm not. But I hear that all the time. I've spent time in TV before and am a teacher now. Maybe that has something to do with it. Glad you enjoy it.
Appreciate you watching and the feedback!
I moved to a new house 4 years ago where the soil is very Sandy. I bagged during every cut the first 3 years. I noticed my yard thinning out and the grass health just looked bad. His year I started mulching and not bagging and have found my Bermuda and Centipede grass health in crease and spread without adding more fertilizer. I also think by badging I was removing not just the clipping but soil which in turn destroyed my overall soil health!
Very cool. Great info. Thank you for sharing. Appreciate ya watching.
I think leaving clippings helps to shade and cool the roots which helps with drought and summer heat especially when cutting low
I can see that. 👍👍
Thanks for the informative video. I always thought I had to collect the grass when I'm cutting grass with fungus and clean my mower and blades in between cut. I was just about to do that. Would've been a pain in the butt since I mow every 3-4 days. Thanks again.
You’re welcome. Thank you for watching and commenting. Glad it helps. I’ve learned that a little extra research from the the pros has saved me big time. Most, if not all, of what I share on the channel is learned from that extension office or just pure experience. I’ve never had a problem with any of these things and never bag. Thanks again.
If you follow the 1/3 rule, then you never need to bag. This might mean you need to mow 2 or 3 times a week- especially in the spring or whenever your grass is growing fast. Another problem is most people mow too low, I see it everywhere. I think there is a misconception that mowing lower is neater while mowing higher leaves the lawn shaggy. But I've come around and on my fescue/KGB lawn found that mowing high and mowing more often still leaves the lawn looking neat- and if you edge your sidewalk and driveway at least once a week- it makes for a striking, beautiful edge due to the height of the grass. Only time I bag is if I can't maintain my mowing schedule due to weather/vacation/ or other reasons. Basically any time the grass is so high it would leave clumps if I tried to mulch. MY rules are: mow high, mow often, keep your blade sharp (underrated but critical), and mow in a different direction every time. I suggest if you find your mower bogging down often or if visible clumps of clippings remain on the lawn after you mow- raise your height and mow more often. Your grass will thank you and reward you with a healthier, greener lawn.
Great info. You nailed it. Thank you for watching and all your comments. I appreciate you getting involved in the conversation with more great feedback 👍👍.
Like you pointed out besides all the benefits to mulching is the saving of time and the hassle. I only bag for for the late falling leaves and before over-seeding fescue. It just wears me out physically and mentally when bagging.
Me too man. Bagging makes it less fun and when all this isn't fun, it's not worth the hard work. Appreciate. ya watching and the feedback! 👊👊
I have a Honda HRX that allows me to set a level between mulch/bag. Since I have a TTTF lawn at 4”, I do a 60/40 setting of mulch to bag to get the benefit of better lift and nutrients returning.
👍👍 nice. Thanks for watching.
I just put new sod in my back yard, coming up on 3 weeks and getting ready for my first mow. In another video you said to mow at about 3 weeks, should I bag, mulch or side discharge?
north Alabama(Tall Fescue) here, i always bag the first cut of the season due to snow mold chance, but I mulch it for use in the spring garden in May. just moved into a new home and have more focused on hand picking weed mitigation (a right pain in the rear) just due to living in a completely new grow zone and finding out on my own what weeds are handled with post-emergent. i could go to the co-op and ask but I'm in it for the long game and learning on my own thru self-research. Also, lignin is the plant's empty cellular structure ie the grass version of wood.
I like your style. Being in for the long haul and learning along the way is what it's all about. I hate to see so many people playing the right now game. And thanks for the lignin clarification. Appreciate that. Appreciate ya watching and commenting as well. Congrats on the new home and good luck.
Welcome to class ladies and gentlemen! Love the knowledge that you share brother 💪😎🤜🤛!
👊👊 thank you buddy. Always appreciate your support. 👊👊
Great advice. If you think about it how often do you see landscapers bag clippings and a lot of the yards look really good
Yup. Thanks so much for watching and commenting. 👊
I love it when people, bag their clippings and take them to the City disposal site. I take them home and use them in my composter, and spread them as mulch on top of my garden.
Very cool. Great idea. Thanks for watching and sharing!
This is some great information. I have KGB and believed some of those myths myself, particularly the one about spreading disease. Just wanted to confirm, can I mulch grass clippings even if I am fighting off existing melting out/leaf spots? Thanks for your research!
Thank you. I mean you can decide if you want to but I never bag, disease or not. Based on the article, it won’t hurt either way. Thanks again. Appreciate ya watching and commenting.
I alternate mulch and bagging. Cool season grass guy. My mower is set at 4”. My lawn is super healthy and grows like crazy.
👍👍
2lbs/N per year? That’s insane! Better than a overpriced bag of fert lol I only bag while I have poa. It’s been an uphill battle the last 2 years even with my pre m strategy and it’s too hard to hand pick all that pop up. Good info. Thanks brotha
Ain't it tho? I feel ya man. When there's poa, that's when I feel like mulching is hurting. I hate that stuff. Appreciate ya watching and commenting!
@@BudgetLawns yeah man, it sucks big time.. still got a lot with all the moisture we’ve had.. i gave up bagging a few weeks ago. Screw it. Oh and the ones that want to argue with a legit scientist… comical.
I love the screw it method 😂😂 never lets me down. I’m waiting on the first argument lol.
@@BudgetLawns 😂😂😂
Thank you for sharing the abundance of info!! Haha, my city actually had an ordinance about bagging our clippings. There’s an older guy who lives in my neighborhood who I’ve heard reports of driving around and taking pictures of people who don’t bag their clippings and sending them to code enforcement. My solution? I mow at high noon when this West Texas heat is bearing down at a crisp 102+ degrees. It’s too hot for him to be out nosing around and I’ve never seen him drive by me! 👍🏽🤣
You bet man. That’s crazy that the city does that. I like your strategy 👍👍appreciate ya watching. 👊
First
Second
Dang that was fast. Thanks fellers!
Data-based decisions vs emotion. We could all use more of that these days. As always: good information delivered with no fluff.
Ain't that the truth. Seems like people these days only react out of emotion and not because it makes sense. Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
well, thats all i needed to hear. ill ditch the bag!!!
👊👊 #ditchthebag thanks man. Appreciate ya watching and commenting.
And here is a quote from the University of Minnesota "As a general rule, grass clippings of an inch or less in length can be left on your lawn where they will filter down to the soil surface and decompose quickly. Remove longer clippings because they can shade or smother grass beneath causing lawn damage." "Remove clippings if the lawn is heavily infested with diseases such as leaf spot, rust or dollar spot to help reduce disease severity.
If the lawn is wet or the grass has become too tall when you mow, clippings can mat together and smother the grass."
Should you bag clippings. A resounding “no” is the answer from A.J. Powell Jr., Extension turf specialist with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. But read his report and understand the conditions and I quote "Clippings normally do not increase disease problems when the lawn is properly mowed by removing no more than one-third to one-half of the grass growth at a time. When grass is correctly mowed, clippings will be evenly dispersed rather than forming a windrow on the surface.
Two other misconceptions Powell dispelled are that people must use “mulching mowers” if they don’t collect clippings and they must mow and collect or rake clippings if the lawn gets too tall.
“Any rotary, side-discharge mower with a sharp blade will cut clippings into short lengths and do an excellent job of dispersing them,” he said. “Of course you’ll still need to follow the one-third to one-half grass removal rule, and this might mean mowing more frequently than you have been doing.
In my experience, hands down, lawns that are not mowed often and correctly look much better when bagged. In Texas 80% of homeowners hire for biweekly service without bagging, these yards are mowed to a specific height regardless of growth, mowed no matter the weather conditions and mowed with blade quality of the day. And frankly never look great
All of these University reports will tell you, do not mulch wet grass, do not mulch overgrown grass(1/3 rule) do not mulch when weeds are present.
When your yard is properly cared for mulching is an important aspect of that care. Hands down my personal properties and properties of weekly clients look fantastic when mulched once to twice out of every 4 mows. No science to back it up just experience.
Experience is always the best deciding factor. Good stuff. Thank you for sharing. This video is definitely talking to folks who are following best mowing practices and not those who don't care. The article linked touches on a lot of those other "rules". Lawn care definitely has a lot of if this and if that scenarios to go through. But like you said, experience always give you the best answer. That's how I operate as well. Appreciate ya watching and giving some great feedback.
@@BudgetLawns You bet Sir!! I enjoyed this video and comment thread...Subscribed!!!
Awesome. Thank you. Appreciate that. Hit ya back!
So, I’m still stuck on bagging my clipping mainly due to trying to keeps weeds from spreading. My lawn was newly sodded a bit over a month ago and I’ve been warned against spraying anything for weeds this first season. I’ve been hand picking the weeds, but, of course, never get all of them. Any thoughts on this situation?
I'm in the same boat you are. New construction, bermuda sod lawn that was laid dormant back in December. Not going to use a weed killer this first year and doing some hand picking. I'm still not bagging though. Even mulching up weeds along with the grass is going to add a lot of organic matter back to the lawn, which will help enrich the poor soil that was there when the sod was laid. By bagging you're just taking that away. I've done this before and getting rid of the weeds wasn't an issue. Don't sweat that. Congrats on the new lawn. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching.
🌞Man, you should have consulted a more reputable extension office like Auburn University. 😂😂 Great video! How's the lawn looking?
Now that's a good joke 😂😂😂. Thanks bud. It's recovering. Posted an update pic last night. I'm tearing it up in other spots a little at a time. Still carving out future flower beds when I get a little time to. Appreciate ya as always.
Love. This.
Awesome! Thank you!
Also if you are mowing properly your mower should mulch your clippings so fine you can barely see it in the lawn. I usually mow every 3 to 4 days
Exactly. You got it figured out. Thanks so much
I love mulching clippings because i don’t like throwing away bags and bags of lawn clippings.
I’m right there with ya. I’ve got better things to do with my time than bag grass 😂. Appreciate ya watching and the comments.
So on my push mower I’ve been consistently mowing about every five days on the Second lowest out of six settings. Will I need to scalp it at a level one at some point for a height of cut if I’m able to consistently maintain cutting about every five days? What is that height of cut reset for and is it always needed?
And when in the summer should I do this? July? August? I live in Charlotte North Carolina and have Bermuda
HOC resets aren’t necessary. Just something to clean things up for the later part of the summer. Here’s a vid I did all about it.
ua-cam.com/video/DRjCabQar0A/v-deo.html
Hope it helps answer your questions. Appreciate ya watching.
@@BudgetLawns thanks for the help!!!
Happy to help any time. Thank you.
Have been mulching for 4 decades, but it doesn't always save time. At least not on-site. operating from a dump truck and having a convenient composting location for end-of-day dumping, its faster to bag until conditions are keen for mulch kits. Knowing that, I still opt to mulch/shred though. A double pass here or there and a couple minutes with a blower are worth not having stinky grass in my trucks. 😆
Thanks for watching and the insight!
You can bag your grass clippings if you want to in Canada but figuring out what to do with them is the issue in most municipalities. You can’t dispose in the trash OR with the garden waste (plant material, branches etc.). Mulching into the grass is best!
Interesting. Where I live, the cities usually have a service to pick up yard waste once a week. Thank you for watching and sharing.
@@BudgetLawns Here too we can put out for pick up in the brown paper bags but if you include grass clippings with your other organics, they reject everything for that week.
Bummer. They take the grass here too.
Hey brother sorry to be off topic but I need some advice. All of a sudden for the first time in four years I went outside and Japanese beetles are swarming me . I’ve taken care of my tree with 7 but I see them going into my Bermuda. Last year I got hit with army worms so I want to knock these things out asap. I bought spectracide insect granules but it’s really dusty and I worry about it being too harsh on the grass. Any thoughts? Thank you.
No worries man. Japanese beetles aren't fun. From my experience, though, they didn't impact my lawn. They really stayed isolated to my rose bush and would destroy it if I wasn't ahead of the game. I used the Bio Advanced Rose and Flower Care. It did great to move them along from my yard or kill them if I was late. Hope this helps. If you don't have luck with the Spectracide look into the Bio Advanced stuff. Thanks for watching.
@@BudgetLawns Thank you brother . I love this channel . All of your works looking great!
Thank you. Really appreciate that! 👊👊
Great video! I’ve been mulching for years lol
Thank ya bro. 👍👍 same here. And not gonna stop.
I feel that new electric mowers don’t mulch well compared to gas. I still prefer the electric for many other reasons, and I still mulch, but I feel that dethatching is necessary after a few months of mulching with an electric mower on tall fescue.
Hmm interesting about the electric mowers. Good to know. At the end of the day, ya always gotta do what works best for you. Thanks for watching and commenting.
If wanting to use it as mulch for a large raised veggie bed,should I bag it first? I dont want weeds.Thanks
Use the clippings? If so that’d be the easiest way I suppose.
@@BudgetLawns Cheers 👍
My 7 year old likes to tell me to bag all the time, because we did at the old house but since I have been watching you I have only mulched, and he can’t stand it lol.
Haha. That’s too funny. Saves daddy some time though right? Appreciate ya!
I'd only bag if you have a problem with unwanted coarse clumping fescue Because you can't kill it with selective herbicides only non selective like Roundup, and I'm pretty sure it spreads by mowing.
Hey mr feltner, it’s Tallis. Looks like u hit 15,000 subs
Sure did dude. Hope you’re having a great summer so far! 👊
you crack me up!! So true bro!
i thought you had two buckets of fried chicken next to you...i must be hungry
LOL. I wish it was! I'd be in heaven. Storing up some rocks as I tear out sod for flower beds. Who knows, may find a good use for them. Thank you for watching.
Let the green tips fly.
Amen brother. Appreciate ya as always. 👊👊
Do I have to change the blades if I stop bagging
Depends on the mower and what blade is on it. My mower has a mulching blade that’s used for every application. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching.
I have been mowing lawns for about 65 years, and currently have St Augustine, Bermuda, Centipede, Carpet Grass, and Bahia over several acres of my property. I mow it all basically the same and I never worry about weeds. Some folks are too anal (OCD) about weeds. A thick lawn will make them go bye-bye, so do not poison your soil with a bunch of pre and post emergent, that will result in many different diseases. KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) and you will have a happy and healthy soil, with a happy and healthy lawn. Leave all those chemicals at the store and quit wasting time and money on them. Organic fertilizers really do wonders for the health of the soil - and the lawn. Also, a good application of compost and/or humus during the winter will also do wonders for Mr. Grass. And ... it is much more drought tolerant. It is now 100 degrees and very dry at my place and the lawn looks fine.
Bingo. Weeds are just part of it. No sense in worrying about them. Do everything else right and they’ll go away. Great feedback here. Appreciate ya adding this to the conversation. Really good info. Thanks so much.
Amen, brother. I agree- the best weed defense is to go on offense by promoting the thickest, healthiest lawn. I also hate the idea of throwing poison on my yard- a few years back I bought into the philosophy of organic fert and building up the soil organically and have been thrilled with the results. I stopped stressing about a few weeds here and there- I just pull them up or MAYBE just do some light spot spraying with weed-b-gone.
We've known since 1967 when the university published papers saying that mulching doesnt cause thatch or compacting.
It's fun to debate, but purely scientifically, we know the answer. If you like the clean look of a bagged lawn... go for it.
👍👍 thanks so much for watching and commenting.
Great info, thank you
You bet. Thanks so much for watching!
Nope! 😂😂😂 I reel mow with a Mclane and it would be a mess if I didnt use the grass catcher! The grass just doesnt break down fast enough. Good vid tho!
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2 lbs per nitrogen per year is what's recommended for my cenipede. That's why I only have to fertilize only once per season. All though I do add other nutrients like iron and humic acid.
That's awesome. Makes it a whole lot better when the only cost is mowing! Appreciate ya stopping by and commenting.
Where did you buy those shelving units?
Sam's Club
Where did you get your custom hat made at?
It’s a hat from my friend at The Lawn Forum. Check out thelawnforum.com if you haven’t already. 👊👊
It maybe OK if you cut ofter but in the north it just sits ontop of my lawn.
Super video - Thank you! :)
Thank you. Appreciate you watching.
Hiya Travis!…Lawncology 👑!
Thank ya brother 👊👊
So for cool season guys the same rules apply ?
There was no mention of grass type in the article. Thanks for watching.
@@BudgetLawns thanx for responding i have mostly tttf and little salad bar mix cut mine twice a week try to keep it at 3 inso ive been bagging every other time next yr I'll cut back on the bagging
Lies!!! 😂😂😂. Good stuff man
Haha, thanks buddy. I'm sure there are people that don't like hearing that stuff cause it goes against what they're told over and over on UA-cam. Even still, other lawn tubers will keep preaching the same things, true or not. Thanks again bro!
Hi, Depending Where you live, your state, city, local university will an agricultural Extension.
You are correct. I think I mentioned that toward the end. Thanks for watching and commenting. 👍
My Honda HRX 200cc mulches as good as bagging with no visible difference
What causes thatch in the lawn?
Improper cultural practices…mowing, watering, and fertilizing. Thanks for watching.
Yeah well now my neighbor will continue to scalp once a week and leave huge clumps of grass all over his lawn and cooks the grass. So don’t bag if you keep the 1/3rd rule.
There’s always that one right? As long as we stay dialed in on what we want, that’s all that matters. He just makes you look even better lol. Appreciate ya watching. 👊
😂😂 nope nah not me man…. Lmao !!!
😂😂😂 thanks brother 👊👊
So many variables to this advice. If you don't mow frequently because no time, then no. If your yard has too many weeds, then no, etc. "Science" and "Educated" respect those variables. It's not one size fits all and it's not "research backed" if you don't take those things into consideration. I know you mentioned them, but it gets lost in the effort to say you're right.
There's not one piece of universal advice about lawn care on UA-cam. At some point, people have to take ownership of their own situations and dig deeper to find out what's best for them. They'll never find it in one place.
I bag when cold mulch when hot
👍 Thanks for watching.
Okay but I’m gonna keep bagging my clippings…
Cool. You do you. Makes no difference to me. You prolly won’t be the only one. Appreciate ya watching.
I felt like I was at a lawn church with that echo
Not the first time I’ve heard the church thing. First time for the echo. Was the info good? Thanks for watching.
@BudgetLawns info was great. I have not bagged my lawn in two years. But have had Reservations about it. Definitely feel more comfortable. But I have a huge thatch problem (Prior to my experiment).
That’s not true man… That’s not true. University of Arkansas? Is that even a credited university?
😂😂😂 I sure hope so. My 2 degrees would be worthless. Thanks for watching man. Appreciate ya.
Post emergent treatments can have bad effects on your children's long term health, even when used as directed. They are man made chemicals.
Yup, that's why I rarely use them. Thanks for watching.
Fake news son!
😂😂😂
No turf was hurt in the making of this video. Just the facts . 👍💚🦸
Haha, that's right! Thanks buddy. Wait till you see some pictures I'm gonna post in a bit. Turf was definitely hurt there 😬😬😂😂 Have a great weekend!