I live in northeastern Illinois. So if I was to put the bagger on my lawn mower this time of year I would end up with a mix of grass clippings and ground up leaves and twigs. I have some bare spots in a few areas planted with small hostas and geraniums. Would it be beneficial for me to collect the grass clippings/leaf mix and either spread on top of or spade it into this bare areas? Usually I just set the mower to "mulch" and just let the remnants lay where they fall, but I thought this might be beneficial. Thanks for your advice.
Grass clipings, etc.
Oct 18, 2007
7 Replies
That's great stuff for the purpose you mentioned. If the soil's loose enough, you really don't have to spade it in. Use a straight rake to blend it with the top 2-4" of soil.
Super duper fabulistic! Really, that's excellent mulch. Don't pack it down and about twice during the winter make sure it is not matted down by fluffing it with a gentle rake.
I do the same, and even collect grass/leave clippings from my neighbors. However, I put them into a mulch pile for one year. Putting the leaves/grass directly on the beds could be messy and there may be some issues of the mix pulling nitrogen from the ground as it decomposes.
Sherw> I live in northeastern Illinois. So if I was to put the bagger on my
The ground here is pretty heavy clay. So based on what you said I think I'll try to spade it into the top 4-6" of soil.
Look into adding sand.
Bill
There's also something else that'll help with clay. Gypsum, I think, but someone else can correct me if I'm wrong. A friend of mine used it and it worked wonders.
Compost, tilled into the soil will help clay soil.
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