Compost with Grass Clippings
Grass clippings are a wonderful way to add vegetable matter to your compost pile. Of course, it'll take a long time to compost, if that's all you have in your garden, and it can cause a few other problems as well.
It's important to understand that in order for garden materials and grass clippings to compost properly, they need a way for oxygen and aeration. You can do this simply and easily by turning your pile frequently, otherwise, not only can you have a serious odor problem, but you also may have clumps that compost, as well as clumps that don't.
Grass clippings have an amazing amount of moisture content and a very high nitrogen content as well. It can often allow your compost a fresh bunch of nutrients, especially if you mix them in with already composted material and a bunch of earthworms.
According to how large your lawn is, as well as how often you cut it, you may have to have several different composting piles in order to get them aerated properly, stay manageable, and be readily available to put on your garden.
There are several different things you can do to avoid some of the problems with composting grass clippings. You can reduce the moisture amount, so it doesn't create heat, or become a slimy mess, by allowing the grass clippings to lay on the lawn for about 24 hours. Of course, you want to clean them up in the afternoon after the dew is off of them, otherwise they dew just adds more moisture.
Also, you may want to pay attention to what pesticides or herbicides you use on your lawn. These types of chemicals can actually damage your compost pile and kill off any of your insects and worms that are helping your compost. You may want to wait until has rained in order to clean up your glass clippings, or after you've mowed, make sure you water your lawn well and allow those clippings to be washed clean of any chemicals.
When it comes to composting, it's best used a variety of different natural materials. Your grass clippings can be added gradually and slowly to your compost pile, or you can have several different composting piles at one time during the mowing season. Just be aware, it takes time for grass and grass clippings to compost, and you may not be able to use the compost from your pile until the next year.
There are several different ways to compost grass clippings, as well as several different products that can help. Look on the Internet for composting information and find the best way to make your grass clippings into great garden compost.
Leave a comment | View Comments