Composting

The Association for Organics Recycling have suggested grass cuttings are left on the lawn, this practice is commonly known as ‘grasscycling’.

Grasscycling can:

• reduce waste that needs to be dealt with and is heavy to haul
• help reduce the mess and strain
• improves your lawn
• helps grass to naturally break down returning valuable nutrients and moisture to the soil
• discourage weeds

According to research half an acre of lawn can generate as much as four and a half tons of grass cuttings a year – which can create nitrogen, potash and potassium – all great fertilising agents for grass.

Grasscycling tips

The UK has the perfect climatic conditions for grass-cycling. To grasscycle:

• your mower should be sharp
• mowing should be frequent (every 5 to 7 days)
• remove no more than one third of each blade of grass
• the best length of cuttings is 2.5inches or 5cm
• mow when grass blades are dry (easier, causes less stress to the grass, and prevents clumps

If the weather has been too wet to mow frequently, run over the long clippings an extra time, and rake them into the root zone of the lawn.

Also see

• Garden waste subscription scheme
• Recycling in York
• Replacement waste containers