BEST Use For Grass Clippings EVERYWHERE In The Garden! MORE Benefits & Easier Than Composting It!

You may think that composting your grass clippings from your lawn (along with the weeds) is the best thing for your garden.
But in this video, I'll show you all the problems with composting fresh grass and that there is a better way! We will mulch with the grass instead and spread it everywhere in the garden!
Grass clippings can help in growing your own food.
- - -
With most of us, it's not just the garden that needs the attention.
We have to set aside time to maintain our lawn as well.
With all the time we spend to keep up that grass, wouldn't it be great if it could also benefit the garden? Well it actually can!
Cutting grass is one of those jobs you just want to keep putting off.
You can avoid it for a while but then you're going to have to chop a few inches off.
When it's that long, there's no way your mulching blade is going to handle that.
They need to be collected.
And then what do you do with it all?
You might think... just toss it all on your compost and you're done but
this is not the best way to handle grass when it's freshly cut.
If you simply dump it all in one large heap the bacteria will start decomposing it quickly.
You'll know that it's breaking down by the heat.
It's a moist heat because fresh grass has a ton of water in it .
It starts getting released as it breaks down.
And then the grass gets limp and the pile starts to compress.
Over the next few days the heat will quickly reach 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
After a few more days, it'll continue to compact down and start blocking the air getting into the pile.
A properly working pile that has the good bacteria that we want depends on a constant supply of oxygen. But now, since less air can get in, anaerobic bacteria will start taking over.
This is NOT the best state for your compost to be in.
The grass will compress down and create layers which get quite dense and definitely block any oxygen and moisture from getting through.
The composting slows way down.
When you have a colony of anaerobic bacteria growing, the grass gets dark green and slimy.
We can get around this problem by drying it out first.
Dump the grass next to your regular compost and then add more air flow by
fluffing it up with a garden fork once a day.
This will allow more oxygen in to feed the good bacteria.
Once most of the moisture is gone you can then mix it into the compost pile.
But my recommendation... and this is your BIG takeaway from this video today... is to avoid the compost pile all together. We're not going to compost the grass at all !
Instead we’ll use the fresh grass directly in the garden as a mulch.
It has the least amount of work but with the greatest return.
All we have to do is lay it down an inch or two thick around your plants and that’s it.
Using the grass as a mulch has a ton of other benefits.
First, if you spread it only a few inches thick, it will easily dry in place.
Adding mulch will stop the sun from baking the soil and protect the roots from overheating.
It will also help keep the moisture in the soil from evaporating quickly.
Mulching will reduce the need to water as often. And that'll help save you some money.
When you water, or when it rains, it will easily pass through the mulch.
And for those times when the soil is too slow to absorb it, the grass will help keep the rain in place until it can penetrate.
Mulching can also help us with weeding and can be a huge time saver for us.
The more we mulch, the less time we'll have to spend weeding.
Covering the soil reduces the germination of weed seeds
and then blocks their light; slowing their growth,
If any weeds poke up through it, you can simply pluck them out.
You could also pull back the mulch and use a hoe to dislodge the weeds.
And then just spread it back into place.
If your soil contains any roots from perennial weeds, like dandelion or thistle,
then a mulch will not stop them.
This is especially true for thistle.
See my other video on how you can fight that weed.
You don't even have to wait until your plants are large to see a benefit with mulching.
Before you plant your seeds just spread the grass over the entire bed first.
But leave the soil exposed where you intend on planting.
And then just do your planting as normal.
You can keep laying down the mulch until the end of the season.
And then it can protect the soil from the sun and the wind all through the winter.
One important note though through all this is if you use any herbicides or pesticides
on your lawn, don't use that grass in your garden or in your compost pile.
You want it to remain organic.
Now you know that a lot of the time you spent on your lawn was a good investment for your garden.
If you found this video helpful, please give me a thumbs up and consider subscribing.
My channel is all about using your garden organically and productively.
Thanks very much for watching!
GWEW-0006

[@probitionate]

As I've long joked (particularly to lawn owners), 'Grass is the only crop we plant, water, fertilize, propagate, harvest...and then throw in the garbage.

[@pappyfiddle]

Well, if you're raising kids it's got value, they can learn soccer on it

[@billiebruv]

Yeah, and throw out the leaves and prunings, and buy in mulch

[@billclinton6040]

That's because in the past, having a lawn was a sign of wealth enjoyed only by royalty and large landowners who did not need to use the land for agriculture. That mindset has been passed down to us today even though people don't understand where it came from.

[@billiebruv]

@@billclinton6040 Well pointed out, Mr. President

[@probitionate]

@@billclinton6040 'Your home is your castle.'

[@BritishBeachcomber]

I've been using grass clippings as a mulch for 25 years. It works perfectly and also reduces weed germination.

[@tati9381]

But how do you cope with the slugs. The grass clippings promote more slugs.

[@oliverkrautkremer5540]

Do i need to dry them first?

[@Sandra-Armstrong]

Gardening and yardwork are the therapy that helps to ease each day's stresses. Happy to see someone else advocating grass-mulch!! One seasonal task I enjoy doing is allowing most of the autumn leaves to remain on the ground. I will pick up some because I keep an area for making leaf mulch to use throughout the year, but the rest of the leaves stay on the ground. Once the end of winter comes and the grass starts growing through the leaves, I cut/bag all of it together to use as my initial mulch layer in the gardens for the new year. It's a great nitrogen/carbon mix that takes minimal work, and it breaks down beautifully in the garden beds. The excess mulch, I use to start a new compost pile for the year, and the cycle continues!

[@GardenWellEatWell]

Thanks for your comments @Sandra! It's always a good feeling to know you're wasting nothing and recycling everything in the garden. Paul

[@dornspinnchenspinne2392]

Please don't forget the wild bees. They live deep in the earth and are killed by cutted grass that is too thick. They fertilize so many more flowers than honey bees.

[@vasileradu7716]

Greetings from Transylvania ( North of Romania ). We do the same with moved grass . It is very nice to see how people who have the same passions find the same solutions, no matter where they live! All the best and good health !

[@GardenWellEatWell]

Thanks very much for taking a look at my channel Vasile! ...and Good luck on your garden this year. Paul

[@robertkattner1997]

I watched all the Vampire movies, including Blackula with Richard Roundtree. Do you have any Vampires left there?

[@vasileradu7716]

@@robertkattner1997 Vampire stories are just legends from Europe's medieval past. Today they are speculated by those who have businesses in tourism and are served to tourists . All the best for you , bye Robert !

[@wildlifegardenssydney7492]

Greetings from Australia Vasile, composter in place, and passionate gardener here too. It is interesting to see how people do this all around the world. I think people are benefiting tremendously from permaculture principles. One of which is ,always cover and protect your soil.

[@derekmulready1523]

I discovered this method from a Lituanian woman at my Allotments I used to cut the grass and dump it . That has now changed. 🇮🇪🇪🇺

[@brianwhite9555]

I used to collect so many fresh grass clippings from just one neighbor that I always had enough to mulch the garden weekly, with plenty left over for composting. In the fall, this neighbor gave me enough leaves to fill two large leaf bins, 4'x4'x6', deeply mulch the garden, and top off the compost pile for the season. All that mulching, plus the liberal us of compost, really improved the garden soil. Love working with free resources!

[@sabinadonofrio8863]

Dad used to mulch the lanes in the garden to keep the weeds out. Then he'd ad it in the beds in the fall after harvest. Weeds have loads of nutrients. Put them back in the dirt

[@FrikInCasualMode]

All good advice. I'll add mine: Of you have chickens, throw a bag or two of clippings in their enclosure too - my chickens love grass clippings. They enjoy scratching through the pile, and whatever they eat provides vitamins and nutrients almost for free.

[@learnjcbskidsterchickensga7594]

Chicken books say avoid feeding mowed grass cuttings due to oil contamination. Just a thought.

[@JohnLipp]

I do this too. Battery mower, so oil contamination not likely

[@amandathurston2720]

I made forest floor pathways with my grass waste, instead of a pile, I dumped it in a trail, and it kept the path all summer

[@robharrison1191]

I'd like to see the end result of this

[@amandathurston2720]

@@robharrison1191 cool, I’ll go make a video in a moment

[@robharrison1191]

@@amandathurston2720 that's what I'm talking about!! Quick response and even making a video. Right on!!

[@Liv40873]

I’ve been covering my garden in grass clippings for years. It really helps me keep up with the weeds. If some grass or weeds are poking through, I just get the weed whacker and cut them down, then cover with more clippings. After a few weeks, my garden has a nice little blanket on it to protect it from the hot west tennessee sun.

[@2gkims427]

I've been doing this for years; and, I agree, it's been one of the best things for keeping moisture in the soil and for creating excellent soil for the future. Great video for those that maybe had never thought to do this. I also add my grass/plant clippings to my potted plants.

[@liferemastered688]

Same.

[@roytrudgian4786]

Yes, maybe as long as there's no grass, or weed seeds from the lawn. And clippings aren't around the base of garden plants and to thick, as some plants may suffer. 👍

[@javaInter]

What about weeds spreading which came from grass weeds

[@lizlandry3388]

@@javaInter compost it first. It kills the seeds

[@carltonrhoden9190]

Dr

[@maienduo]

I have been mulching it directly on my plants since my high school days. Thanks for my Agriculture practical class back in the 1980s.

[@accordionchick]

I started adding the grass clippings to all my flower beds last year and this year I have ZERO weeds in my flower beds. Definitely try it!!! Also, pull up your dandelions (the yellow) flower and make dandelion tea. its very healthy!!!❤️

[@GardenWellEatWell]

That's great @SCJ Johnson! I'm glad it's working out for you! Thanks very much for watching. Paul

[@sunhannah2937]

Careful with dandelion tea. It used in Chinese medicine and can cause diarrhea in somepeople.

[@420somewhere4]

@@sunhannah2937 not to mention dog piss on it.

[@justmejo9008]

@@420somewhere4 most people clean their food before eating

[@soreloser2798]

Be aware of what types of fertilizers/pesticides you, your lawn people, or the previous owners have used in the grass. You can test the soil your grass grows in if you are concerned with residual chemicals. Just send a sample to a lab you find online.

[@DovidM]

You can also dig a trench in your vegetable garden, and line the bottom with a layer of grass. Then use a garden rake to cover the grass with a half inch to an inch of soil, then a layer of grass over that. Repeat the layers until you’ve used up the grass and soil. Earthworms seem to love this lasagna method, and will make short work of the grass.

[@pattibrooks5198]

I put a circulal depression around each plant fill it with grass clippings. Then water that area works like a sponge and you get a deep water.

[@suzilouden5964]

I do this with my grow pots. Layer freshly cut grass with compost. The fresh grass breaks down while your vegies grow. Win, win.....😊

[@flordelcampo7516]

Thanks for the tip!, I have to try this

[@jazradcliffe2286]

I've been doing that for years. My mother told me this 30 odd years ago.

[@phallca]

@@jazradcliffe2286 There's a lot to be learned from the traditional ways of gardening, too many are being lost due to the ease of modern chemicals. One I've always used in the greenhouse is ladybugs, they eat the greenfly and their larva (evil looking little sods but harmless) can quite happily much on the fly, black, white, or green, they don't care.

[@tangobayus]

In Albuqueque, I used grass clippings to mulch the hard, sandy soil outside my apartment. After a couple of years the soil improved tremendously. I could take a steel rod 3 feet long and easily push it all the way into the ground.

[@crosslawncare1557]

This is a good idea. As for the grass in the compost pile, it doesn't clump up nearly as much when it is mixed properly with the right amount of carbon material.

[@christopherstein2024]

Without enough carbon it won't even compost at all but just turn into mush.

[@davidmunro2077]

@@christopherstein2024 rather like silage

[@consi1801]

What sort of carbon material, please?

[@kathynix6552]

@AZ-zn9lgpretty sure used coffee grounds are “greens” even though they are brown in colour, due to their high nitrogen content.

[@heavymechanic2]

@@consi1801 Hi, I use wood chips in the compost as browns to react with the Greens grass. Mine are finely ground from chipping tree branches, but a 2cf bag of pine bark is inexpensive and breaks down quickly. John Koler (growing your greens) talks about using pine bedding, cardboard and other stuff to make compost in a tumbler.

[@Jacqui1943]

I didn’t know about us using cut grass in my garden. I was putting it in my compost. Thank you so much!!!

[@divinecomedy0]

This was so informative. I’ve been piling my mowed grass, and what a waste it’s been. Thank you for sharing your practical advice. I’m definitely going to change how I manage my mowed grass in future

[@kirstygibbons]

I have already been using grass as mulch, and so am so happy to see you taking about this it works great, leaves 🍁 work in fall too

[@sharonrichards1627]

Cardboard makes a great mulch/weed barrier. Dump clippings on top and the cardboard serves as the "brown" material for mulch.

[@robharrison1191]

I do this when I make raised beds that sit on the ground. Cardboard kills off the weeds and gets the composting process started.

[@doriang2220]

Yeah but depending on what you use it may contain bad chemicals

[@tdestroyer4780]

How do you water through cardboard? It blocks water.

[@luckypenny312]

@@tdestroyer4780 the cardboard breaks down rather quickly. The worms love it!

[@VickyHafler]

I do this… caution… if the grass is too think and it rains that grass is extremely slippery. I have taken three offs from this this year.

[@gardenweedsgrower]

This is the great vid on working wisely in the garden to save time/energy. Time for me to compost in place. Got my clippings, scraps, and my cam. It is a mulching and composting type of day. ⛏🧑🏾‍🌾

[@kimevans4107]

It's been fun & challenging to find ways to use yard debris/cut grass in my small yard area in an apartment community. Instead of raking it to the curb for removal, that is. I used cut grass as mulch, as a budget decision. Good to know its benefits. It's definitely a win-win!

[@Moriandrizzt]

Been doing this for years. It's a wonderful way to maintain soil moisture and block weeds.

[@dcspangler8025]

Living here in east hawaii (big island), we have unique problems when trying to grow food & manage grass for lawns & grazing. I really appreciate this posting & comments by subscribers. Keep up the good work.

[@headingoutside]

I've been doing this instinctively, but am so happy to hear all the details that I didn't know. Thank you so much!

[@Msibme]

I have been using my grass clipping in this way on all my cared for yard areas. Around my plants, and Lilac bushes. I have been doing this for 30 years. It keeps down weeds, feeds the plants and the soil that was mostly clay is now a home to earthworms and is healthy soil. It keeps moisture in the soil as well. I even use leaves in the fall to cover these areas over the winter

[@lesliegardner2692]

Just a question. Do you find by using grass as a mulch it gives slugs & snails access to the plants?

[@Msibme]

@@lesliegardner2692 I have never had issues with slugs or snails ... I also do not put any chemicals on my yard

[@Msibme]

@@dorothymartin8557 This may be true ... my yard is welcome to all creatures

[@janeti6149]

Instead of raking the leaves I run the lawn mower over and collect the chopped up leaves and grass clippings together to spread on the gardens

[@rangerswife2176]

I’m in!!!

[@jesshothersall]

I particularly like the tip about planting seeds, having just cleared a strip in the cuttings, would never have thought of that one :)

[@HS-sr9ww]

This is absolutely help me to learn more about how to do compost!!! thanks for your effort making videos and tips!

[@randiginder7691]

I was told about using grass for garden couple yrs ago. I love this! Does great job controlling weeds and at end of summer when I clear the garden I still add grass clippings until no longer mowing and it helps to make the garden soil very rich for thr next yr.

[@jeanmader2302]

I have been doing this for several years now, and my plants just rejoice. The grass forms a nice barrier, and looks good too.

[@draganacrnila8079]

This is so simple but successful metod, thank you!

[@velletabique2521]

Thanks sir i learned a lot. I am an amateur gardener so any tips i get are indeed of great help to my plants.

[@tenntech40]

I have never heard a more Midwestern accent in my life lol. Great video.

[@PatriotMango]

I thought it was canadian

[@supramby]

I think he sounds almost like Rick Steves and he is a west coaster. California and Washington

[@danbev8542]

I’m glad this works for a lot of you. For me, the grass prevents rain from getting through, and layers of dry powdery white stiff developed. Also the grass heats up to very high temps! We use a mulching blade. I compost all yard and kitchen waste & wish I had 10 times the amounts we have.

[@wardroland270]

Thanks GWEW. Great job. Good info. I’ll be checking out more of your videos.

[@zalilamunaim9168]

Thank you! Years of grass clipping around my mom's house wasted to no use. So now I'm will use this method.. Thanks again..

[@Trylobyte]

We mulched around our raspberry canes with grass clippings. In time a fungus attacked the growing layer at the base of the canes and they withered and died. So take care not to let the mulch have too much contact with plant stems.

[@fourdayhomestead2839]

Great tip.

[@W1zdumb]

Thanks.

[@johnp7158]

hmmm, i mulch with woodchips and pine needles around raspberries... wonder if grass just doesnt work well with forest type berries?

[@FlyingcupNsourcer]

@@johnp7158 think about the type of environment that your plants cone from in their natural form. With strawberries, currants, and cane berries, they are more from a understorey, with rotted leaf litter. So plan accordingly, I use both straw mulches (or grass clippings) for nitrogen and rotted woodchip or a mixture of woodchip and compost.

[@hairyham2862]

@@johnp7158 could it be too much nitrogen from the fresh grass clippings being absorbed by the tree?

[@Zizzyyzz]

Great tips. Thank you.

[@Bigfoottehchipmunk]

Some friends went on a 2 week vacation right as we had Spring rains. He joked that he needed to go bale the yard. I asked if it had been treated, and he said, "Not since last fall." I told him I would take it! My garden beds are mulched between rows, and my compost pile got fed as well.

[@GardeningwithMalwinderkaur]

Nice upload. Thanks for sharing...good job

[@codycharles7147]

I love my weedy lawn. I love the diversity it brings. I cant believe people douse this earth with petrochemicals to get rid of the diversity.

[@GardenWellEatWell]

I have a completely diverse lawn as well. And one great thing about them is that they always look great just after you cut them....when all the weeds are at the same height! ...hahaha Thanks for watching @CCC ! Paul

[@beverlymichael5830]

I totally agree. Weeds and all in the yard. Never use any chemicals

[@MatanuskaHIGH]

Mulch keeps weeds down. Weeds steal nutrients from the target plants. But also mulch keeps soil healthy. Constant breaking down of organic materials keeps soil healthy

[@codycharles7147]

@@MatanuskaHIGH I keep my garden free of weeds, my lawn on the other hand is very weedy and I love it.

[@billybamboozle6812]

I dont have many weeds. We cut lawn at 3.5 inches high and that keeps most weed seeds from germinating. We use a hand weeding tool also. Dont need diversity or chemicals.

[@josephinehenry8236]

Dandelion & thistles are highly nutritious! Throw them in your smoothie, I’ve done this for years 🍀

[@carikshawn4201]

I am not a gardener despite I am a floral designer but, I cut the grass in my little patio since I purchased a weed trimmer. Now I know what to do with the cut grass....thank you SO MUCH!

[@lindiwemkhize3101]

Thanks a million for this tip cause the compost heap takes a long time to get ready for use.

[@cj9072]

Good to see this. I bag and have used grass clippings for years in a 300'x80' garden. One thing I watch for is later in the growing season when grass and other broadleaf weeds start to mature and have mature seed heads I skip using those clippings for mulch in the garden to prevent adding weed seeds to garden. All my fall leaves along with grass clippings are spread, with a final tilling in late October. With a full canopy of plants, along with clippings I have no weeds, even on my large pumpkin, squash, and watermelons.

[@Rosethatwantstomove]

My uncle used to do that over 46yrs ago. I'm 56 & he died when I was 10. I remember him doing the compost both ways. His yard was over an acre. I bought a lawn sweep 2 days ago hoping my neighbor would allow me collect the dried grass. She calls me up when I was about to leave home depot w the sweep. She asked if I had anything to pick up the grass. I laughed out loud. Had to explain why I was laughing. Perfect timing. 5 55g bags of dried clippings & I didn't do the whole yard. It went directly on the garden. I was tickled & she was too less strain on her mower.

[@paulamendes5907]

Love it. I was doing this already but now I’m sure about it. And learned much more on how to do it. Thank you. Subscribed.

[@charlesdang2557]

Paul, great video. That thing you show about grass composting in layers with the fuzzy white stuff.. yea that is me! lol. Wonderful idea using it for mulch.

[@tatermater2613]

One of the best things I ever bought was a yard sweeper that I drag behind my riding mower. No bagging or raking. I can dump the load of grass clippings and in the fall leaves, directly into my garden beds. This saves so much work and time.

[@noneyabusiness1302]

I LOVE my yard sweeper!! Basically I'm bagging up my own mulch. It is absolutely brilliant

[@Al828282]

LOVE THIS!!! I recently started using the bag on my mower to collect the clippings for my compost pile. Using the clippings in my flower bed will be an even better use for them! I'm going to set my blade lower and re-mow my lawn to get started right away.

[@alanneal9542]

The lower your lawnmower blade, the more often you have to mow it.

[@kerryneylan7978]

What fantastic advice, thank you.

[@lt1929]

Thanks for the video,easy to learn and easy to do, very helpful!

[@jeanmader2302]

I love this method, and do it every growing season. The grass forms a moisturizing barrier. The ground stays warm, but not hot. If weeds come up, it seems they are a bit easier to pull, as the soil is not compacted, and dry. I don't mind raking, as it gives me time to think. Lately, my brain is too full of things That are stressful, thanks to our present government. The garden is definitely the best place to be.

[@frederickbowdler8169]

Lovely talk

[@MyClarissa21]

Is the global government . At the moment it seems that people don’t care about peace and prosperity

[@gyongyipedersen9264]

I use this method for many years, and is indeed the best!!!

[@emilyhorgan1282]

Thanks so much I've been composting for ages so this is another alternative use...

I take a break from composting like this to keep water and make manure, thanks for sharing

[@sj6919]

I do this around my roses. I keep the mulch pulled back from the base of the rosebush as the clippings can heat up as they decompose. I thought it might cause weeds in the lawn to sprout in the garden, but that hasn’t happened. I found it increases earth worms in the garden that can attract animals like possums to dig for them, but that’s OK. We are in drought conditions and are not looking forward to a long, hot summer, but mulching will help retain water. Thanks for the nice video and for encouraging others to do this.

[@fishmut]

I like the way you think, I have wood chips in my gardens and the weeds break through them in time and don’t hold moisture for that long, so I’ll try adding lawn clippings on top water and layer them both and see how it goes hopping the wood chips will break down faster as well.

[@karelcuchal9813]

After 50yrs of gardening I will try this at first time this spring.

[@10HDFLHX]

I've been doing this for years and it works fantastic! You will be pleased. When I first tried it on recommendation of an old time gardener, I was hesitant thinking I would be introducing a lot of unwanted seeds into my garden.. That didn't seem to be an issue and my garden stays manicured and easy to keep. Good luck with your garden this year!

[@tracielansing535]

I do it every year.my I can walk barefoot in my garden and it feels like a carpet and no weeds.and my vegetables are great tasting.

[@scruffygardenerau2098]

Thanks. Great tip. I’ll use this in my food garden in Australia

[@Stephen_Strange]

Thank you so much - We do this already and it really does work well.

[@fourdayhomestead2839]

As in life: everything in moderation. Thin layer prevents most issues.

[@pattibrooks5198]

Mulch plantings every year. Btw. After one applies the grass clippings , if your plantings are in a wind prone area. Water it light spray till thurrily moist It kinds acts like glue to hold it together in the wind

[@linrocio]

Such a helpful video! Loved it. Nice job!

[@kernow1273]

Thank you so much! Really easy to follow video. I will start doing this from now on😁

[@kedeglow2743]

I use most of my grass clippings around my tomatoes. We have an awful problem with blight here, and a nice thick covering of grass clippings on the soil prevents the dirt from splashing up on my plants, giving me a big reduction in blight on my plants. When my toms are happy I'm happy.

[@petersugar2185]

Great video man, I've always use my grass clips as mulching and building my soil. Been telling my friends and neighbour's but some dont believe that I do that or they just can't be bothered to do. But it's not hard work at all

[@kathrynbratvold3960]

This is a great wonderful video- thank you

[@cynthiahamilton3232]

Great video!!! TY for this great method of direct mulching of grass clippings!!

[@mjb12141963]

Nice video of a certain perspective on composting. I no longer grow vegetables due to too many problems with insects and leaf blight. I use a lot of weed killer on my grass and so never used my compost for my vegetable gardening. I compost in bins made from pallets so the area of each 4 bins is 4 x 4 feet. It takes four bins about a calendar year to produce a full bin of finished compost depending on how often I turn it and how much grass I add each time I turn it. The grass matting in the grass pile is a hassle but when adding to a pile you can spread the layers apart and spray them with a hose and they will com apart. The heating of the grass and the compost piles is evidence that the plant material is breaking down. It is a normal process. However you don't want it to get too hot. Much over 140 and you start to kill the bugs, worms and beneficial bacteria that help break down the plant matter. If your temp gets too hot turn the pile. When you turn a pile you want the inside if the pile to be on the outer side of the new pile and the outer part of the old pile to be inside the new pile. If when turning a and it has a sweet earthy smell it is doing good. If it stinks like mold or some other foul smell it's too wet. in this case add some leaves or wood chips or more grass through the pile but don't add water. When building a compost pile you need green material, brown material and water. Green material is not necessarily the color of the thing. leaves wood chips are brown. Grass clippings and kitchen waste are green. If the grass clippings are brown and dry or have turned black because they have started to decompose they are still green. What matters is the contents of what they are made of. You can easily find charts of what is good for composting and what is not. Coffee grounds and egg shell are great and easy for most. Coffee shops are often willing to save you their used coffee grounds. Starbucks is a good source as they are environmentally conscious. You want equal amounts of green and brown and only enough water to wet the plant matter. Turning the compost often to re-introduce air help oxygenate the pile and speeds decomposition. I have a large amount of leaves that I compost along with mine and my neighbors grass clippings. I produce about 16 square feet a year of compost that starts as three or four times that. I use a chipper/mulcher to break down my leaves twigs and small branches. layer by layer of green, water, brown water, repeat to build a pile. I use a 12 inch kitchen thermometer to keep track of the temp of my piles. I know this rambles. Sorry, trying to get everything in.

[@EthicalPreparedness]

This was an excellent (and informative) video. You also did a GREAT JOB on filming and editing it. Thank you.

[@diogenesegarden5152]

Yes to both points. You don’t realise how much time and effort goes into producing content until you try it yourself.

[@flossycee1012]

Great video, very informative 👏Thankyou.

[@suewagner9338]

I did this last year with my broccoli plants to keep them from drying out - worked great

[@904lifestyle]

Hand picking the weeds worked out for me.

[@derivesrurale]

once i tried to use grass clippings as mulch in my garden... the freaking grass took root.

[@chaggasfernandes]

Thanks for the advice. It was helpful.

[@floralcouture3763]

Invaluable gardening advice 🙏

[@morgankaufman2679]

I take care of my lawn just as much as my garden... To me mowing my lawn is not a chore, I actually enjoy it!! Having a nice looking lawn, and garden for that matter, increases the curb appeal of your home...

[@Heather11268]

I turned my grass into a clover lawn, it took 3 years with continual seeding but it never looks dead, and I don't have to mow.

[@STONE69_]

Looks like crap, when it goes to flower.

[@JohnSmith-fq7hj]

Wow I did the same and I'm not proud of it my lawn has been completely overrun with wild violets 2 or 3 different clovers and a few other weeds there's a little grass in there as well lol. I do actually leave a few good size areas of the violets for the bees tho they love it

[@Susan70003]

Micro clovers have far fewer flowers.

[@ahnstalk6261]

@@JohnSmith-fq7hj Wild Violet leaves are tasty and mild. The flowers are edible too. 🌻

[@pascalbaylon256]

@@ahnstalk6261thanks! didn’t know violet leaves are eatable

[@depanggurchannel2592]

Thanks for sharing.... stay peace, happy, healthy,, joy n success

[@ceferinagragasin971]

Thank you for the knowledge shared.

[@johnanderson3405]

I’ve been using grass clippings for several years in the garden. It’s great for holding moisture and weed suppression. I’m glad you’re sharing it with everyone. Thank you!

[@ronskancke1489]

I use grass to hold down weeds too but does anyone realize you are introducing millions of grass seed as you are doing this.

[@johnanderson3405]

@@ronskancke1489 Ya have to cut it when it’s short, before it goes to seed.

[@MasterKenfucius]

The grass clippings provide 70% of the yearly nutrition your lawn needs. Collecting them will require you to fertilize the lawn with more chemicals than by just leaving them where they fall, even if they don't get mulched. The white stuff making clumps inside your mulch piles is mycelium and it's the fungus that is breaking it down.

[@allytchannelswillbedeleted5040]

This must not apply to my yard. The grass is still there , and green. We don't even water the grass. I find it wasteful to water it. When the water needs to go to the garden instead. It also rain a lot, year round.

[@alloftheaboveeunicesmith9625]

My garden beds are made from soil chickens make from my composting board waste sit slightly uphill from my yard. My yard has gotten thicker healthier because of compost tea action when it rains... No chemical lawn fertilizer. Work with natural cycles.

[@yaacobariffin481]

I have been using both grass and garden clippings for the past 20 years, never throw them away. Grass clippings is the best because it had been cut down into tiny pieces of grass, hence it will decompose faster. After a few years you will notice your soil become tender and soft.

[@common-sense99]

White is not always rhizobium. White can be the anaerobic actino mycetes which is very toxic to plants.

[@MasterKenfucius]

@@common-sense99 Nobody said it was rhizobium. I said it was mycelium. Rhizobium lives in root nodules. Mycelium is just mold decaying the organic matter.

[@tsetendorjee9040]

This is a very good TV show and we love it!

[@tammydepew5236]

Love this idea as I have to mow 3 1/2 acres weekly, if we aren’t having a drought season here in MO. I didn’t realize I could be using it fresh cut grass.

[@JRoadzReegz]

Other great grass tip... The final mow in autumn before cold winters (where it freezes) when ya usually cut lower than usual.. don't just put into garden for mulch... Dig it all under into the garden before winter freeze hits - tried it and garden soil this yr has more worms than I've ever seen in soil!! Gotta imagine the nitrogen released from the green clippings into soil over composting winter within soil helps too - so far so good and will do it every year!

[@bross8762]

Yes, I've done this too with the same results, loads of worms, great soil texture, and good crop yields... green manure...

[@Mrs_Susan]

Do you mean till the grass clippings into the soil?

[@vanissaberg5824]

Just be careful not to pile fresh cut grass too close to your plants. It's very high in nitrogen and as it breaks down that nitrogen can burn your plants. It's best to lay it in the pathways first and let it dry out for a few days before raking it up on the garden beds as a mulch.

[@clashwithkeen]

I came down in the comments to say this but knew someone else would have beat me to it.

[@analyticalhabitrails9857]

@@clashwithkeen Well it wont hurt if you repeat it again because I only found this person mentioning it and with your help it would be welcoming. Thanks!

[@rosannacasu904]

Thank you sooooioo much for the video you shared very helpful I didn't now I can use the grass in this way thank you thank you again 😊

[@elizabethabebe9735]

Oh wow.. I never knew that.. thanks for the video. God bless😘

[@abruwer08]

Kind of was forced to this because we live in a very dry area and I don't have access to the standard materials people use as mulch. Unfortunately I usually have to decide whether to use my green grass to heat up my compost pile or to use it as a mulch. The other thing I use the grass for is as a mulch between my beds as I don't have access to wood chips/dust, although I do use some card box sheets below it to stop some of the harder weeds from coming through.

[@rjvanloon4769]

That's why I compost grass in thinner layers. Besides, if you turn the compost once in a while you prevent the issues mention in this vid as well.

[@vmr6771]

I had a bare spot that nothing grew. I used clippings and threw some seed in Fall. This year, i actually have flowers and soil has soften a bit. Great idea 💡

[@gardentours]

Great video. I'm using grass clippings as well.

[@TheSafetySmith]

For my garden I mix grass clippings with soil, fine cedar mulch, and coffee grinds. Let is sit over winter and wow do my lily and iris's pop

[@fishmut]

Great tip mate, I got issues with my iris growing in winter here lol flowering , they are small and not growing into a good size they should be. I’ll try your method ,fingers crossed they do ok

[@anthonytriolo3643]

I put the clippings between the rows of the plants to cut control weeds.

[@misspandesal]

This was amazing

[@oilspeculatorhater]

Great information and nice presentation, thank you for sharing.

[@olegk455]

Grass clippings are also great when planting garlic in the fall. I first put my bulbs in and cover the whole area with 2” of clippings that I save or from the very last cutting. It stays there over winter protecting it from cold and well into spring time by which time garlic starts to poke right through with no problem whatsoever.

[@diavolorosa]

Thanks for the tip!

[@stevecookson3201]

Been using grass clippings as mulch in my S.F.G. for years. also use straw (not hay) and used pine needles effectively as well.

[@shanahaines7182]

Do you mulch the pine needles first? And do you find that it acidifies the soil?

[@stevecookson3201]

@@shanahaines7182 I do not find any imbalance as I amend my soil with compost in between seasons. I usually use about a 1 inch layer of pine needles under "mature" plants.

[@shanahaines7182]

@@stevecookson3201 Thank you. I have so many pine needles in my yard, but I've been told not to use them as mulch. Having this as an option is going to save money. Thank you.

[@shapiemau2244]

Yes, that is the best method and one that I use here in the UK especially as the rain has disappeared over May. By doing this I am keeping the moisture in the soil and in turn also adding richness to the soil. I 'farm' on sandy loam and it does not take long for the soil to dry out here.

[@kabyeros3136]

Wow amazing sharing my friend, now i can have ideas for the grasse. Thank you and more power to you. Keep safe