If a lawn is always mowed in the same direction, grass will 'lean' or grow in one particular direction, Mann said. No problem in the drier seasons, the mulch sheltered the turf, quickly broke down, & returned nutrients. If you're unsure of how long to leave your grass, consult a landscape expert about what varieties of grass are growing in your lawn. clippings very finely & left the lawn looking neat. Most grass varieties across the nation thrive at 2.5 to 3 inches, but some, such as those in Florida, might like to be cut shorter or taller, Mann said. More: Here's why you should avoid raking your leaves Cut grass between 2.5 and 3 inches

Changing the mower blade or sharpening it once a year can prevent that. Sometimes, those infections cause spots and odd patterns in the lawn. People mowing with a dull blade are shredding their lawn instead of properly cutting it, which leaves space for fungi to attack. 'The sharpness of the blade is paramount,' Mann said. Here are a few other tips for mowing your lawn the best way: Change your blade once a year, or else things might get ugly Grass clippings will also help conserve moisture during the hotter months when the grass turns browner from the summer heat. You can leave small grass clippings on the lawn to fertilize the new grass that will grow after mowing. Second, never let grass clippings blow into roads or walkways, because - healthy or not - the grass blades high in nutrients can cause problems for sewers and waterways. Grass clippings contain nutrients such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium. First, if your grass has lawn disease, it's best to remove clippings so the disease doesn't spread, Scotts Lawn Care notes.

While letting grass clippings lie is best, there are two reasons you might want to retrieve them. 'Grass clippings are made of very soft tissue that decomposes rapidly,' Mann said. Still, grass cut with a rotary mower won't stick around for long. People concerned about appearance can opt for a mulching mower, he suggested, as those cut grass finely. 'If you have the opportunity to save a third on anything, why wouldn’t you take that,' he said. But, he said clearing clippings removes as much as one third of fertilizer needed for healthy lawns. That's because grass clippings hold valuable nutrients that can fertilize your lawn, experts say.īob Mann, an agronomist with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, said it's become 'sexy' to pick up grass clippings, as some consider cut grass unsightly. If you're cleaning up grass clippings after mowing the lawn, you're likely losing money and wasting time. Watch Video: 4 common lawn-mowing mistakes

Leaving grass clippings on lawn