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Recycling Lawn Clippings

A HALF ACRE OF LAWN CAN PRODUCE SEVERAL TONS OF GRASS CLIPPINGS EACH YEAR.  WE’LL TELL YOU WHAT TO DO WITH ALL THAT SO-CALLED YARD WASTE ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

DON’T BAG IT!  TRY COMPOSTING YOUR GRASS CLIPPINGS – OR BETTER YET, DO NOTHING AT ALL.  YES, THAT’S RIGHT, LEAVING DRY LAWN CUTTINGS WHERE THEY ARE WILL HELP KEEP YOUR YARD HEALTHY AND GREEN.  MIKE GOATLEY, EXTENSION TURF GRASS SPECIALIST AT VIRGINIA TECH, EXPLAINS.

GOATLEY: TURFGRASS CLIPPINGS ARE ACTUALLY PRETTY HIGH IN NUTRIENT CONTENT, SO IT’S JUST LIKE SLOW-RELEASE FERTILIZER THAT YOU’RE RETURNING TO YOUR LAWN.

TO KEEP THE CLIPPINGS FROM ACCUMULATING, GOATLEY SUGGESTS FOLLOWING THE ONE THIRD RULE.

GOATLEY: THE IDEA IS THAT WE DON’T WANT TO REMOVE MORE THAN ONE THIRD OF THE LEAF BLADE AT ANY SINGLE CUTTING EVENT. THE OTHER THING WOULD BE TO ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A SHARP MOWER BLADE. THAT’LL GIVE YOU A CLEANER CLIPPING WHICH WILL DEGRADE QUICKER.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM.        

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org