Should You Be Bagging Your Grass Clippings?

Your lawn in Virginia should be regularly mowed throughout the growing season to keep it pristine and manicured. If you're wondering whether you should bag the grass clippings after mowing, the answer is no for most cases. The best thing to do with these clippings is to leave them alone on your lawn to decompose, as they release beneficial nutrients that can help it stay healthy. However, there are certain instances where you should bag them, some being when your grass has an infection, it's too tall, or it's the first mow of the season. If your lawn mowing company is bagging the grass clippings every visit, drop them, as this is a sign that they aren't taking good care of your turf!

Why Leaving Grass Clippings on Your Lawn After Mowing is Better

After mowing your lawn, leaving the grass clippings is better than bagging them. These grass clippings were once part of it, meaning they're full of nutrients that foster healthy growth. In a few weeks, these clippings will eventually decompose and return those vital nutrients to your soil. That way, they replenish its supply and even boost its vibrant green color.

When should you bag your grass clippings?

While it's best to allow grass clippings to sit on your lawn to break down, there are a few circumstances when bagging them is more beneficial. Here are a few times when it's okay to bag your grass clippings:

• If your lawn has a fungal infection, you'll want to get rid of the grass clippings. They can inhibit proper airflow, which can encourage the development of a wide range of fungal diseases, like brown patch, dollar spot, and more.
• If you have very tall grass, the clippings will be thick and is best if you remove them. They can become heavy and block sunlight from reaching your lawn.
• If it's the first mow of the season, it's best to keep your lawn neat and free of grass clippings. Bagging them ensures your grass can focus on developing deeper roots, prevents thick thatch from accumulating, and sets it up for long-term success.
• If you have a new lawn grown from seed, you'll want to keep it free of a layer of grass clippings because it might still be too weak and delicate.
• If your lawn has a thick thatch layer, the grass clippings are best bagged because they won't be able to decompose. That's because the microorganisms from the soil will not be able to come in contact with these clippings and break them down.

If your lawn mowing company is bagging grass clippings weekly, break up with them.

A good lawn mowing company should know when to bag grass clippings and when they should be left on your lawn. If your mowing company is bagging them every week, break up with them. This is a tell-tale sign that they are not looking after your lawn very well. You need to work with a company that knows when to leave them and when to bag the grass clippings after cutting your grass.

Call us today to sign up for our lawn mowing service!

When it comes to the health and appearance of your lawn, you need a team that gets the job done right. That's us at Hambleton Lawn & Landscape! We offer a professional lawn mowing service to residential properties in Arlington, Falls Church, McLean, VA, and surrounding areas. When you sign up for this service, we will visit your property every week from March to November to perform mowing, string-trimming, edging, and blowing the grass clippings off the surface of your hardscapes. Depending on your lawn's needs, we will bag or leave the grass clippings! Call us today at (703) 532-4911 to sign up for our lawn mowing service.