Don't Bag It!

Last updated 2/23/98

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Don't Bag It!

Clark Throssell and Zac Reicher
Purdue University Turfgrass Specialists

Rosie Lerner
Purdue University Horticulture Specialist

AY-2

By following these simple procedures you can use your grass clippings to help maintain a beautiful lawn you can be proud of for years to come.

Why Return the Clippings?

*Recycles valuable nutrients	*Reduces community disposal costs
*Reduces the need for fertilizer inputs	*Saves diminishing landfill space
*Does not increase thatch	*Most Indiana landfills will not accept
*Reduces time spent mowing	yard wastes after Sept. 30, 1994

Mowing:

* Mow often, preferably when grass blades are dry.

* Never mow off more than 1/3 of the leaf blade at one time.

* Keep the mower blade sharp.

* Mow as high as possible for your turf species.

.	Maintain at	Mow when grass
Species	this height	reaches this height
Kentucky bluegrass	2.5 in.	3.5 in.
perennial ryegrass	2.5 in.	3.5 in.
tall fescue	3.0 in.	4.0 in.
zoysia	1.0 in.	1.5 in.

Irrigating (for established turf)

* Water deeply and infrequently. Water thoroughly to wet the soil to a depth of six inches and do not water again until you see signs of drought stress. Drought stress appears as bluish-gray areas of grass or footprints that remain in the grass for an extended period.

* Water early in the morning (4 to 9:00 a.m.) to help reduce disease problems.

* Let the grass and the weather determine the watering schedule.

Fertilizing

* For cool season species like Kentucky bluegrass, perennial and tall fescue, 2/3 of yearly nitrogen should be applied in the fall !!

* Do not apply heavy applications of nitrogen in the early spring !!!

* When fertilizing in May or July, use a slow release fertilizer containing sulfur-coated urea, urea formaldehyde, natural organic, or some other slowly soluble nitrogen source.

* Follow the table for fertilizer guidelines. One or two applications fertilizer per year is for low maintenance lawns. Three or more applications are recommended for an attractive, high quality lawn.

Applications/yr	Timing	lb. Nitrogen/1000
1	Sep.	1.0
2	Sep.+Nov.	1.0 + 1.5
3	Sep.+Nov.+May	1.0 + 1.5 + 1.0
4	Sep.+Nov.+May+July*	1.0 + 1.5 + 1.0 + 0.75
.	*for irrigated lawns	.

Purdue University

Cooperative

Extension Service

West Lafayette

Indiana 47907

Cooperative Extension work in Agriculture and Home Economics, state of Indiana, Purdue University, and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating;
H. A. Wadsworth, Director, West Lafayette, IN. Issued in furtherance of the acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914.
The Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service is an equal opportunity/equal access institution

Send corrections, suggestions, and comments to danw@purdue.edu

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