 |
Grass as FertilizerThe best fertilizer doesn't come in a bag. |
||
|
Small File
|
Large File
|
||
| > Real
Player > Quicktime |
> Real
Player > Quicktime |
||
Transcript: Grass as Fertilizer
Good nutrition is key to a healthy green lawn. Did you know you apply more nutrients every year with your lawn mower than with a fertilizer spreader?You see, every time you mow and mulch those clippings back into the turf, the clippings begin to decompose and they slowly release the nutrients your lawn needs -- nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and even micronutrients -- back into the soil as they decompose, feeding the turf day by day. So in many ways, your lawn mower is the best fertilizer spreader you have on the property.
A mulching mower works ideal. It’s designed to chop those clippings up into very fine pieces so they drop down in the turf and decompose quickly. You can use a standard-type mower. You just want to close off the discharge chute and set the front wheels a little higher than the back wheels. That way, the front of your blade clips once and as you pass by the back of the blade clips a little bit lower. That helps them to chop the clippings up into finer particles.
But either way, every time you mow, you return those clippings to the lawn. It doesn’t contribute to thatch; in fact, they break down very quickly. Thatch is really caused by over watering and over fertilizing your lawn.
So consider your mower the best fertilizer spreader at your place, and you’ll have a healthy, green, beautiful lawn.
With your common sense turf nutrition tip, I’m Skip Richter.
download
For comments and questions about this site please contact
coleena@tamu.edu
or e-gregory@tamu.edu
Last Updated:
July 6, 2006