To Mulch or Not to Mulch – Mulching Advice and Tips

Mulching Information

Mulch or not to mulch that is the question!  Most gardeners will find themselves asking this question at the start of every gardening season in the UK.

Mulching is the act of  recycling the grass clippings by finely cutting and re-cutting the grass. These recycled grass cuttings known as ‘mulch‘ will protect the grass underneath and in doing so conserve soil moisture, prevent the growth of pesky weeds and keep the soil temperature even. As a result, lawns are healthier and greener. Lawn mulching improves the texture and content of the soil, thus reducing diseases and thatch, resulting in a greener, healthier looking lawn.

Just a quick note: It’s always best to remove the clippings from the lawn at the beginning and end of the growing season when decomposition is slow.

Why Mulch?

Mulching, which is not always explained as clearly as it could be, also saves time as there’s no more stopping to empty the grass collector – no more bagging up clippings and taking them to the tip, or having unsightly piles of rotting grass lying around your garden either.

When to Mulch

Mulching is best done during the spring and summer; Once you have cut the grass, leave the mulch clippings on the lawn. No matter what anyone tells you, thatch and mulch clippings on your lawn are not one and the same – and, no, clippings do not cause thatch. Grass mulch clippings, this portion of the mown grass, are about 90% water, so they begin to decompose almost immediately after hitting the ground. Left in place, clippings return nutrients to the soil. As they decompose, they release up to 30 per cent of the lawn’s required nutrients. When grass clippings decompose, they return valuable nitrogen and other nutrients to the soil.

Things to think about

The size of your lawn area is always one of the main deciding factors as trying to use a bigger machine then needed on smaller areas can be more of a hindrance then a help as they can be rather cumbersome and heavy. A general rule of thumb is shown in the table below.

So when it comes to the crunch and you are looking to purchase a new lawnmower do not choose to ignore the mulching option. Ask the right questions first, as it would be a big shame not to inject your lawn with that well deserved nutrient shot that it so badly relies on in the height of the season.

Mulching Lawn Mowers

The new wave of mulching mowers are now able to collect which is a great all round feature due to the fact that the UK climate is not ideally suited to year round mulching due to the amount of rain we get right across the UK.Unlike conventional mowers, new style mulching lawnmowers operate a system which recycles the clippings as you mow. Mulching lawn mowers chop the grass clippings into fine particles then push the particles right down into the turf out of sight.  There are no grass bags or collectors to empty – no trips to the compost heap or tip.  The result is a perfect lawn finish that’s 30% quicker.

The best mulching lawnmower to purchase that suits your needs is always a bit of a minefield due to the vast amount of products now on the UK market;  Honda, Hayter and Mountfield are brands that deserve a mention.

Conclusion

It’s always best to get help and advice from your chosen retailer who would be more than happy to discuss your options. At Just Lawnmowers we stock a vast selection of quality mulching mowers and our team of garden machinery experts are always on hand to answer any questions you may have. Please call us on 01263 820202 to have any queries answered.