What to Do With Grass Clippings in the Garden?

To me grass clippings are one of the best resources a gardener can get! I see grass clippings from lawn as an amazing way to gather organic matter for other uses in the garden ranging from composting and garden beds to mulching! Here are some really great ways to utilize this free organic resources in your gardening if you are wondering what to do with grass clippings!

• Natural fertilizer for the Lawn
• Use as a Mulch to Suppress Weeds, Retain Moisture, and Add Nutrients
• Compost Those Grass Clippings
• Lasagna Gardening or Sheet Composting
• Start new garden beds
• Feed the Worms
• Garden Pathways

Read on to learn more!

Feed the Soil with Grass Clippings as Natural Fertilizer

First let’s dive into simply leaving the chopped clippings on the lawn which acts as a free, slow-release fertilizer. When you use a mulching mower you can allow the grass clippings to decompose back into the lawn and return nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium back to the soil. The clippings will reduce the need for commercial fertilizers and help break down clay soils over the years by adding organic matter. If you don’t have a mulching mower, go over the cut clippings multiple times to chop them up as fine as possible to help speed their decomposition.

Adding grass clippings back to the lawn is very cost-effective and reduces the reliance on synthetic fertilizers that can harm the soil and surrounding ecosystem. However I prefer to actually use the grass clippings for other gardening uses!

Use as a Mulch to Suppress Weeds, Retain Moisture, and Add Nutrients

One of my favorite uses is to utilize the grass clippings as a mulch. When applied as a thin layer (1-2 inches) around flower beds or shrubs, dried clippings serve to suppress weeds, retain moisture, and add organic matter back to the soil.

The primary advantage of using grass clippings as mulch is their ability to retain moisture in the soil. By forming a protective barrier over the ground, mulched grass clippings help reduce water evaporation, ensuring that your plants receive an adequate water supply, especially during hot and dry periods. The clippings shield the soil from direct exposure to sunlight which slows the evaporation of water from the soil. This moisture retention feature can be particularly beneficial for plants with shallow roots or those sensitive to drought conditions.

Since weeds often require exposure to light to germinate grass clippings can act as a natural weed suppressant when used as mulch. As the grass clippings break down over time, they release essential nutrients back into the soil, enriching it naturally. Organic matter breaks down over time which also helps with drainage and allows plants to grow stronger root systems.

Compost Those Grass Clippings

Grass clippings are a valuable addition to your compost pile due to their high nitrogen content. They are considered a green material that accelerates the decomposition process. When green materials are combined with brown materials such as dry leaves or twigs, grass clippings create a balanced carbon-to-nitrogen ratio essential for successful composting.

The nitrogen-rich nature of grass clippings provides the necessary fuel for the microbial activity within the compost pile. As these microorganisms break down the organic matter, they generate heat, which speeds up the decomposition process. This results in nutrient-rich compost that can be used to enhance soil fertility and promote healthy plant growth in your garden.

To optimize the composting process, it’s important to layer grass clippings with other organic materials to ensure proper aeration and moisture levels. Be sure to turn the compost pile regularly to help aerate the mixture and facilitate decomposition. Microbes need the oxygen to help with breaking down the compost. With the right balance of green and brown materials, including grass clippings, you can create a nutrient-rich compost that will benefit your garden.

Use in Lasagna Gardening or Sheet Composting

Lasagna Gardening, also known as sheet composting, is a no-dig gardening method that involves layering organic materials to create nutrient-rich soil for planting. I use Lasagna gardening to fill up raised beds or to start new ornamental beds. To utilize grass clippings for Lasagna Gardening, I start by laying I’ll layer cardboard or newspaper underneath to form a temporary weed barrier. Then I’ll add a thick layer of grass clippings as the green component. This provides a nitrogen-rich base that promotes microbial activity and accelerates decomposition.

Then we add a layer of brown materials such as dry leaves, straw, or shredded newspaper to balance the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. This helps create a healthy environment for beneficial microorganisms to thrive and break down the organic matter effectively.

You can repeat this layering process, alternating between green and brown materials, to build up your lasagna garden bed. Grass clippings can serve as a valuable green layer alongside kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, and other organic waste.

As the layers decompose over time, they create a fertile growing medium that retains moisture, suppresses weeds, and provides essential nutrients for plant growth. I’ve always found that the beds I started with this method are some of the best.

Use Grass Clippings to start new garden beds

I often start new beds simply by layering a thick blanket of grass clippings over the garden. I lay the clippings as thick as I can to act as a natural weed and grass suppressor and hopefully smother any unwanted vegetation underneath (yes weeds we are talking about you). This eliminates the need for chemical herbicides and provides a more organic approach to preparing your garden beds.

As the grass clippings decompose, they release nutrients back into the soil, enriching it and creating a fertile foundation for the new plants. The worms like this too as it the nutrient-rich layer encourages soil aeration and fertility.

Feed the Worms

Speaking of worms… they are voracious consumers of organic matter, and grass clippings are a favorite treat for these garden helpers. If you do worm composting consider adding grass clippings into your worm bin. The clippings are an easy way to add organic matter for their consumption!

Mix grass clippings with other organic materials that worms thrive on, like leftover kitchen waste, shredded leaves, and newspaper. This ensures that the worms receive a balanced intake of nutrients, leading to the production of high-quality worm castings that serve as an excellent natural fertilizer for your garden…and worm poop is really good for the garden!

Cover Garden Pathways

To use grass clippings to cover the pathways in your garden spread an even layer of grass clippings along walkways or paths. The grass clippings act as a protective mulch, helping to maintain the health of your garden beds while reducing the need for frequent weeding. The downside to this is the pathways are not as attractive as other materials like wood chips or mulch might be. Also the clippings will decompose more rapidly and will need replenished more frequently.

Tips for Using Grass Clippings

When utilizing grass clippings in your garden, it’s essential to keep a few tips in mind to maximize their benefits and avoid potential issues. As great as they are grass clipping do have some downsides.

Use Only Weed Free Grass Clippings

To prevent introducing unwanted plants into your garden beds use only grass that doesn’t contain weeds.

Avoid Herbicide Treated Grass

If you treat the lawn don’t use it for the garden. A preemergent herbicide in the vegetable garden would be a bad idea when you are trying to grow your seeds!

Let the Clippings Dry Out

Dry clippings are easier to spread and move where needed. Dry grass will also not clump as much as wet grass. All this being said I do use fresh grass clippings especially when for Lasagna gardening or starting new garden beds.

There can be a lot of uses for grass clippings in your garden! I’m not the kind of gardener that works for a perfect lawn but I do enjoy the benefits of the lawn as an excellent garden resource!