Grass clippings are organic material rich in nutrients, particularly nitrogen, that require management to keep a lawn healthy and attractive. They can be beneficial or detrimental depending on how they are handled. Learning the proper techniques for collection and repurposing ensures this natural resource is used effectively, preventing it from harming the turf. The method you choose—whether to leave them, collect them mechanically, or remove them manually—depends on the lawn’s condition and the volume of the clippings.
Deciding When Removal is Necessary
Leaving short grass clippings on the lawn, a process known as “grasscycling,” is generally recommended because they decompose quickly and return valuable nutrients, potentially accounting for up to 25% of the lawn’s annual nitrogen requirement. Clippings are composed mostly of water and do not contribute to thatch buildup when the lawn is mowed frequently enough. This practice saves time and reduces the need for supplemental fertilizer.
Collection becomes necessary when the volume of clippings is too high to filter down into the turf canopy, which happens if you remove more than one-third of the grass blade height in a single mowing. Long clippings can clump together in thick piles called “windrows,” which can mat down and smother the grass beneath, causing yellowing or dead patches. If the lawn is wet, the clippings tend to stick together, forming dense mats that block sunlight and air circulation.
It is also important to remove clippings if the lawn is suffering from a fungal disease like rust or leaf spot, as leaving the infected material can help spread the pathogens to healthy areas of the turf. Similarly, if the grass was recently treated with a broadleaf weed killer, the clippings should be collected and disposed of according to the product label to prevent herbicide transfer to garden plants.
Mechanical Collection Methods
The most efficient way to collect clippings from a large lawn is by using a bagging attachment connected directly to a rotary lawnmower’s deck. The high-speed rotation of the blade creates airflow that directs the cut grass into a collection bag. For this system to work optimally, the mower blade should be kept sharp to ensure a clean cut, and the mowing speed should be moderate.
For very large areas or when dealing with dried, scattered clippings, specialized tools like a lawn sweeper can be effective. These tow-behind or push devices use rotating brushes to physically lift the debris from the turf and deposit it into a large hopper. Lawn vacuums provide a powerful alternative, using suction to lift heavy, dense piles of clippings, leaves, and other debris that a standard mower bagger might struggle with.
Manual Removal Techniques
Manual removal remains a practical solution for smaller areas or for clippings settled in hard-to-reach spots. The common fan rake, typically used for leaves, works well for dry, light, and scattered clippings across a manicured lawn. The flexible tines allow the rake to glide over the turf without causing significant damage to the underlying grass blades.
When the clippings are wet, matted, or slightly tacky, a specialized lawn or dethatching rake, which has stiffer, more rigid tines, may be necessary to lift the material from the soil surface. If a large, thick pile of wet clippings needs to be moved from a single spot, a garden pitchfork can be used to spear the dense mass and transfer it to a bag or wheelbarrow. For clippings that have landed on sidewalks, driveways, or patios, a stiff-bristled push broom or a powerful wet/dry shop vacuum can quickly clear the hardscape surfaces.
Disposal and Beneficial Uses
The most common beneficial use for collected clippings is adding them to a compost pile. Their high nitrogen content acts as a “green” material to accelerate the decomposition of carbon-rich “brown” materials like dried leaves and shredded paper. To prevent the clippings from compacting into a slimy, foul-smelling anaerobic mass, they must be mixed thoroughly with dry materials to achieve a balanced carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, ideally around 30-to-1.
Collected clippings can also be applied as a natural mulch in garden beds around vegetables, shrubs, or trees. When using fresh clippings, apply them in thin layers, not exceeding one to two inches deep, and allow each layer to dry before adding more. This prevents the clippings from matting, which would block water and air from reaching the soil. If on-site recycling is not feasible due to excessive volume, the clippings should be placed in designated bags for municipal curbside collection or taken to a local yard waste drop-off site.