Why use a lawn mower than to mow the grass?

8 ways to use mowed lawn grass

Once homeowners discovered the beauty of green lawns, manufacturers of garden equipment rushed to offer a variety of lawn mowers and trimmers. But good tools alone are not enough – regular lawn care creates a properly mowed lawn. And as a consequence – the need to dispose of it.

After mowing the lawn there is always a lot of grass left over, if you are faced with the question of where to dispose of the grass after mowing, there are some pretty effective ways to use this material. Mowed lawn grass is a valuable material for the gardener, it does not need to be thrown away. In this article, we will talk about the possibilities of using lawn grass in the garden.

1. Compost – proper use of grass “trash”

Do not rush to send the mowed green mass into the usual trash box – make of it a useful and high-quality fertilizer for beds and beds. If you have not yet bought a composter, make sure you choose a suitable composter or make one yourself for your area.

Put grass into compost

The green contents of a lawnmower tank overheats and turns into fertilizer, even if you only put it in a container – off-the-shelf or homemade. However, if you are interested in real compost, which is stacked for maturation in layers of various organic materials (it is regularly turned and other manipulation), remember that freshly cut grass is part of the nitrogen-containing organic residues.

Compost in bags – an alternative method of composting

• If you don’t have a lot of space on your property for a full-fledged compost bin,
• You want to get a valuable product quickly (in just 1.5-3 months),
• You are intimidated by the hard physical work of shoveling a pile of ripening compost.

Strictly speaking, the process that takes place in bags is not really composting. The traditional version involves aerobic microorganisms, which is why ventilation is so important for the proper composting process. The bag is filled, the mass is tamped, the excess air is vented and sealed hermetically – anaerobic microorganisms, for which oxygen access is contraindicated, are involved. This method is therefore best suited to owners of large lawns with a lot of green material: all the ingredients go into the composting bag at once – and nothing is added over time, as with the conventional method.

You can use sturdy, high-capacity plastic garbage bags to produce fertilizer from grass clippings. However, there are also commercially available special compost bags that close at the top and have a practical valve for picking up the finished product at the bottom.

Grass can be composted in plastic bags

Common materials – kitchen scraps, medium-sized branches, straw, leaves – can also be added to quick compost. In this case, you can be limited to mowed lawn grass.

2. Green Menu

Lawn cuttings can be used to make a liquid green fertilizer, called grass mashed potato. It is ideal for this type of fertilizer because the shredded grass will accelerate the fermentation process. The shredded grass cuttings are placed in a barrel (approx. one third of the volume), poured over with water and left to stand for a couple of weeks. The working time depends on the ambient temperature: the warmer, the faster.

Liquid green fertiliser can be made from grass clippings.

In the fermenter you can add some beer or kvass, EM preparations in the form of seeds. Or you can do without them: wild yeast in sufficient quantities contained on the surface of the grass and leaves. For more “nutritious” future fertilizer, some gardeners add a scoop of manure or chicken manure to the container – it is at your discretion and depending on the availability of the necessary ingredients.

3. mulch

Today, probably all gardening enthusiasts have heard of such an agronomic technique as mulching – it retains moisture in the soil, keeps weeds in check, makes it easier to loosen beds, protects fruits from rotting and becomes food for plants. And all of these delights are readily available to the owner of grass clippings. Many people have not only heard of mulching, but use it extensively, so they don’t have to explain where to put the grass clippings from the lawn.

Mulching is a useful and popular agricultural technique.

Hot active mulch

While today, thanks to popularizers of organic and smart farming, conventional mulching is practiced by many, not everyone has heard about active mulch and its use. The bottom line is briefly this – conventional mulch in the form of hay, straw, sawdust and other materials are potentially edible for soil dwellers. However, it is not always possible to use them for this purpose (which means that nutrients can also be obtained from plants). First, the organic matter begins to decompose under the influence of enzymes of (still living) cells – this process is called autolysis. In this process, the membranes are broken down and the contents of the plant or animal cell become accessible to the microorganisms living in the soil. Dry plant debris takes even longer to decompose.

With active mulch, this natural process is accelerated. The more plant debris is damaged (cut, crumpled), the more active the cell self-destruction process will be. And green lawn grass shredded with lawn mower blades is best suited to this technology.

Preparing hot active mulch

To create active mulch, freshly cut grass is piled or placed in a plastic bag like bagged compost. When the temperature of the substrate rises (this is why it is also called hot mulch), it is mulched by laying the material in a thick layer, but so that the mass of hot mulch does not touch the plant stems.

In an active layer of mulch, organic material is broken down faster, which means the plants get nutrients faster. In addition, carbon dioxide, which is a component of photosynthesis, is released.

Anyone who has ever tried to mow a lawn knows how serious and responsible it is. But what to do if the wire tends to go under the knife? Of course, look no further than the powerful battery from the LMO 36-40 Combat Set. With this brainchild of progress and high technology, you can mow quickly and effectively with few breaks and thanks to the large working width and the capacious grass catcher box. And no messy cables!

The 2-1 mowing system gives you the choice between spreading cuttings over the lawn (which act as a natural fertiliser) or collecting them in the grass catcher box and then using them as you see fit.

And don’t forget the additional nice features of this model: -5-speed grass catcher box height adjustment allows you to mow any kind of lawn; -The handle is easily fixed in different angular positions, which means that a tall person can do the work in a comfortable upright position. -Includes a battery and a quick-shot device.

4. Cover plants for the winter with dry lawn grass

If you have plenty of grass clippings, dried, it can be used to create frost protection for plants from strawberries, perennial ornamental plants and subsiriums. Constructing winter houses over the plants, forget about the main rules of using such materials – dry grass for protection must be dry. It is also necessary to ensure the outflow of water from under the protection in spring and during thawing. And do not forget to remove the insulation in time: In the spring, the hay will continue to serve as a thermal insulator, only then the floor will not allow it.

Hay will keep strawberry planters warm in the winter

5. Hay for storing fruits and vegetables

In addition to living plants, hay is good for protecting vegetables and fruits in the winter. For example, a decent layer of this material is needed to create vegetable storage in the form of trenches and backyards. Apples of winter varieties are well preserved in hay, tomatoes – permanently and almost until the new year.

Apples are well preserved in boxes with hay

6. Warm beds.

If you plan to build warm beds, lawn waste is useful there. Both fresh and dried grass is suitable as filler.

Grass from the lawn will come in handy for making warm beds.

7. Fresh grass and hay can be used as animal feed.

Rabbits, goats, poultry, some pets will be happy with fresh green grass. And it can be used to produce silage (succulent fodder due to the fermentation of green mass) and cut hay grass, which is hermetically packed when it reaches 50% moisture content. If you do not keep animals, your offer may be of interest to someone in the neighborhood.

Fresh grass and hay are needed to keep rabbits

8. Shallow grass and toilets in the cottage

It is believed that freshly cut grass neutralizes the unpleasant odors of the cottage toilet – it is recommended to throw it in someone else’s snake pit. And in hay form, it is suitable for use in a composting toilet.

We’ve looked at up to eight ways to use the contents of a weed whacker. Perhaps you know how you can use knotty grass, because it’s not trash at all, but a valuable material for the garden and vegetable garden owner. Share your options in the comments.

How you can mulch the grass with a lawnmower and why is it necessary?

The mulching feature of a lawn mower is a technology designed to cut and then shred the grass so that it is evenly distributed across the lawn.

A mulching lawn mower works on the following principle:

1. The device first cuts the top layer of grass;
2. After that, the cut vegetation is shredded with a mulching knife;
3. The grass is then thrown back onto the lawn.

There are 2 types of mulching mowers on the market. These are gasoline mowers and electric mowers. The latter type of devices, in turn, is divided into devices operating from the network or from a built-in battery.

The gasoline mower with mulching function has the greatest productivity. It is equipped with a 4-stroke engine with a capacity of 2 liters. C. and more. Such devices are able to regularly treat areas of u200bu200b from 400 to 1500 m2.

Electric and battery-powered mowers are less efficient and cannot handle large weeds. As a rule, their power does not exceed 2 kW. In practice, this is not enough to care for large areas. Therefore, to eliminate the risk of overheating the engine, the operator must take breaks to cool the device.

Why should I mulch my lawn?

When mulching, the grass is mowed with a lawn mower and the mowing area is fertilized. This is done to ensure that the grass and plants are recycled in the mower and fed back to the lawn as a nutrient fertilizer. Mowed grass retains moisture in the soil during hot fall or frosty weather.

The layer of grass cut by the mower has a protective function, which helps slow the growth of weeds in the soil. A lawn treated with a mower protects the grass from drying out on the ground.

During the fall season, grass treated with a lawn mower develops properly. Performing the procedure will help shred dry leaves that have not been recycled on the property and slow down watering.

Using a lawn mower with mulching is aimed at developing simple vegetation. Mowing with a lawn mower is easy, and the grass clippings serve as fertilizer for well-maintained lawns.

The mower does not need to be used often. Otherwise, instead of the protective function of mowing, the soil and grass will be overfed.

Mulching with a lawn mower delivers nutrients to the soil and recycles dry leaves and weeds, filling the soil of the area with moisture without watering.

A regular lawn mower must be used to work with a lawn mulch kit. Simple lawn mowers can mow plants but not shred them. Lawn mower models for mulching should have a high output.

Preferably, the mower should be equipped with a grass catcher that works on the basis of a simple fork. This makes it easier to shred grass and spread fertilizer with the mower. Use the mulching feature on the lawnmower so that the cut grass lies evenly.

Is mulching the lawn necessary?

The main purpose of mulching is to fertilize the grass and provide the lawn with the necessary nutrients. In addition, shredded grass helps reduce the rate of weed growth. The remains of shredded vegetation cover the lawn tightly, preventing wild vegetation from taking root.

Another important function of mulching is to protect the grass cover from premature evaporation of accumulated moisture. This allows the owner of the plot to save time on watering the lawn.

Advantages and disadvantages

Only experienced gardeners mulch a well-kept lawn. Others do not see the advantages of mulching.

• In preferring the use of nutrient raw material for mulch cutting;
• It becomes easier to work with the mulching function, no need to clean the mosquito bin of plant waste.
• The treated layer is spread evenly with fertilizer and protected from drying out.
• Weeds grow less.

Based on the advantages, it is possible to identify the negative aspects of mulching:

• In order to use the mulching feature, certain grass and soil requirements are necessary.
• Simple mulching should be such that when used, the lawnmower is strictly over the grass.
• Mulching is not always practical for the gardener. If the plants and grass are not treated in time, the lawn will not be well-maintained.

Is mulching a lawn mower necessary?

The answer to this question depends on the equipment of the mower. The most important role is played by the power of the built-in engine. If it is 4 hp and more, the mulching function will only bring a positive effect. However, if the engine power is less than 3 hp. S., then such a lawnmower option can worsen the quality of the grass.

The fact is that during the operation of the engine, its power is distributed over the nodes that require energy consumption. The main cutting blade is the regular cutting blade, which is responsible for mowing the grass. It receives a certain percentage of the engine’s power. The remaining power generated by the engine is distributed to other components, such as the mulching blade or the wheel drive. Because of the motor’s low power, it may not have enough energy to keep each individual unit running steadily. This leads to a decrease in their speed and a deterioration in the quality of grass mowing.

Definition and principle of operation

Lawn mower mulching is a special technique of treating the grass by cutting it and then shredding it. This is done in order to fertilize the surface of the grass, which over the years loses its nutrients.

In addition, this method of grass treatment allows active action against weeds and significantly reduces the time spent on watering. When mowing grass with the mulch mower, only the top layer of grass is cut, which is then thrown back onto the mowed surface as mulch during the mowing process.

This technology allows you to avoid wasting money on expensive fertilizers and do it yourself, using the mulch as humus, which itself is an excellent component of the fence.

In addition to the obvious advantage of free fertilizer, which is actually under your feet, mulch lawnmower allows you to work almost continuously, without wasting time looking through the box where the grass is stored In conventional lawnmowers.

Lawn mowers with mulching function

The positive effect of the mulch is based on the decomposition of mowed grass. However, in practice, this does not always happen as the owner of the plot needs. In some cases, the shredded vegetation simply dries out in the sun and turns into hay.

To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to follow the rules of making mulch:

• Shredding should be done in cool weather. On hot sunny days, it is better to choose early morning or late evening for this purpose;
• The best time to mulch your lawn is in mid-spring or late fall. At this time, the seeded lawn needs fertilizer for growth and development;
• Do not mulch your lawn in early spring. After frost, the grass cover begins to grow quickly. Some stems become stiff and turn into poor quality raw material. Once shredded, they don’t rot, but dry out, only interfering with normal lawn growth;
• Do not mulch your lawn immediately after a rain. First, the quality of the mowed grass will be quite poor under such conditions. Secondly, the blade and other parts of the mower will be subject to increased corrosion when mowing wet grass.

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In order to extend the life of the mulching blade, it is necessary to thoroughly clean it from the accumulated grass. This will protect the cutting element from the effects of chemicals included in lawn fertilizers.

Principle of operation of a new generation machine

Thanks to modern technology, there was a lawn mower with mulching, which came to the liking of many owners of country houses. The principle of its work is quite simple. Two metal blades are equipped with sharp knives. They are facing each other. When the power is applied, the movement begins, which turns the mowed grass into fine crumbs.

Different mower models handle grass in different ways:

• Plants are thrown backwards or in different directions;
• They collect the material in special containers;
• immediately shred the greenery into powder and scatter it over the territory.

The third option, of course, is the best, since mulching is done while driving. Thus, the soil receives an abundance of organic mixture, which under the action of microorganisms turns into a high-quality fertilizer. Such mulch is equal to humus, because it contains many useful substances. Therefore, dacha owners do not buy additional fertilizers, thereby saving their material resources.

Since there are both gas and electric mowers on the market, the choice should be made wisely. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

An inexpensive way to create a high-end lawn

According to some sources, mulching was invented by English gardeners. When it was forbidden to use hoses for watering, they began to cover green lawns with shredded plants.

Today, this is called lawn mulching. It involves several procedures:

• Regular mowing of grass;
• clean dried plants;
• recycling the raw materials;
• Returning the mulch to the soil surface.

This regulates the temperature balance on the lawn during the cold season. Preserves moisture in hot summers. fertilizing the soil with nutrients. Protecting the area from weeds.

Carefully examining the root zone of plants, you can see how they successfully develop and bush. In addition, the sod layer becomes much thicker and denser. In fact, quality, fertile soil has always been the key to the prosperity of green plants.

In regions where harsh winters prevail, it is advisable to lay a thick layer of turf on lawns.