Mulching Vs. Bagging? What Should I do?

Should you bag or mulch your grass clippings? The debate continues as we go into further detail from our last video discussing the pros and cons of mulching or bagging and what you can do with all your grass clippings. The answer isn't simple, but we help you determine the best answer for your growing situation.
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Пікірлер: 159

  • @evilordxw
    @evilordxw Жыл бұрын

    Did I just get a university lecture on cutting grass? LOVED IT! Thanks.

  • @andrewgibb8846
    @andrewgibb88469 ай бұрын

    My takeaway: If you’re cutting more than 1/3 the height of the grass, bag it and keep it on your property for weed perimeter control. Long grass clippings left on lawn lead to build up of thatch due to ratio of carbon/nitrogen carbon taking longer to break down. Mulch your grass when it’s about 1/3 or less frequently as it provides your lawn with plenty of nitrogen from the young clippings.

  • @dmack346
    @dmack34621 күн бұрын

    I bag because I keep my grass 4 inches high and I only mow once a week. Thanks for sharing.

  • @diytwoincollege7079
    @diytwoincollege707925 күн бұрын

    I bag in the beginning and end of the season and mulch in the mid season.

  • @benbyington4036
    @benbyington40362 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for all the content and info you have put out. It’s been very helpful. I have always bagged my clippings

  • @gsdls
    @gsdlsАй бұрын

    This was really helpful and I look forward to trying both. I keep giving my clippings away and I will start keeping some. Thank you

  • @GarageGear
    @GarageGear2 жыл бұрын

    Excellent content my friend! I mulch a lot but the last few years I have had serious problems with spider mites and use the bagger to suck them up and throw them away. This does slow them down quite a bit in the summer months. Once temps come back down I mulch again. Keep up the excellent videos!👍

  • @rorymacintosh6691
    @rorymacintosh669129 күн бұрын

    Such sensible advice - thank you so much!

  • @Carl-iw9sy
    @Carl-iw9sy Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for this very informative video. I like to bag my clippings during spring, unfortunately I run out of places to recycle it as the grass grows too fast during this time of the year (mowing 2-3 times per week). Once the temperature starts getting warmer and the growing slows down I then mulch it.

  • @Boltron
    @Boltron29 күн бұрын

    i bag on saturday and i mulch on tuedays, water on my watering days of wednesday and sunday. and i apply ferts/seaweed/kelp/iron on sundays as well.

  • @livehardone9437
    @livehardone94372 жыл бұрын

    I’ll bag in the Fall to help remove leaves. I’ll also bag a couple of times in Spring and use clippings for garden mulch. Other than these time I mulch or rear discharge.

  • @jswaby
    @jswabyАй бұрын

    I ramped up my cutting to every other day and noticed significant growth. I’ve always bagged, however I’m now doing a bag for the first pass, and then a quick second pass that’s mulched. It’s not nothing but I’m hoping for some benefits further into the season.

  • @ready4anything284
    @ready4anything284 Жыл бұрын

    Great informative video!

  • @KamfaKing
    @KamfaKing Жыл бұрын

    Great discussion, thanks for the info.

  • @SoiLab

    @SoiLab

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for watching!

  • @PacificNorthwestLawns
    @PacificNorthwestLawns2 жыл бұрын

    Great information Matt! Thanks 👊🏼

  • @SoiLab

    @SoiLab

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Pacific Northwest Lawns!

  • @DEFE1994
    @DEFE199410 ай бұрын

    Amazing information, thank you

  • @paulazemeckis7835
    @paulazemeckis783523 күн бұрын

    I live in sunny and warmSt. Petersburg, FL. Have St. Augustine grass. Always bag then dump into my compost container along with other organic items I compost.

  • @coonhound_pharoah
    @coonhound_pharoah9 күн бұрын

    Good info. Minor correction I see on lawnTube constantly. Thatch is a layer of roots, rhizomes, and stolons integrated with the soil in spreading turf. Thatch is not decomposing grass clippings and other debris. These are simply lawn debris, not thatch. Even when the pieces are too big from mowing too infrequently they are debris and not thatch. Spreading turf causes thatch. Bunching turfs do not.

  • @martienspedro293
    @martienspedro2932 жыл бұрын

    Brilliant vid, very informative 🤘🏻

  • @SoiLab

    @SoiLab

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! Glad you found it helpful.

  • @beverlyholborow208
    @beverlyholborow20823 сағат бұрын

    Thanks for you excellent info. Most useful.

  • @beri232
    @beri23213 күн бұрын

    I have a Honda mower with the Twin-Cut blades. I cut my lawn once a week in the “mulch” setting. My old mower had a normal blade and I had to bag it but the blades on the Honda dice the mulch up nice so I leave it on the lawn. Awesome mowers! My Honda also bags nicely when the grass is wet… when I do bag.

  • @twilson377
    @twilson37711 ай бұрын

    I mulch every other week and bag on the off weeks. Seems to be a good balance.

  • @itzjoeylo4501
    @itzjoeylo450115 күн бұрын

    I’ve always owned a property that was inundated with weeds, so I always bagged. Just this last week I mulched for the first time because I’m paying a chemical guy to treat my property that just got my irrigation system installed. I’m ecstatic with the results and can’t wait to see it improved more and more. We’re in Oklahoma with mostly Bermuda and some Fescue under trees.

  • @curlyfries5095
    @curlyfries50957 күн бұрын

    We have a site the city has for us to leave bagged lawn clippings and leaves which they turn into compost and tree limbs into mulch to be used for free.

  • @long35va
    @long35vaАй бұрын

    I have bagged my Bermuda for the last 3 years and my Bermuda has been healthy and thick and basically weed free. I mow every 3 to 4 days. I use PGF complete every 5 to weeks along with Dirt Booster Plus. I havs had excellent results and a healrhy green plush Bermuda lawn

  • @lifeintornadoalley
    @lifeintornadoalley2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks to the comment about weeds. Could you possibly find some common weeds and experiment if they contribute to lawn health, or spread, or just be a silent killer of grass roots. I know dandelions are a pain. But they're not all too aggressive with killing roots.

  • @mr.c6674
    @mr.c667426 күн бұрын

    I have mulched for years. Early in home ownership, I bagged because others did it, and mower came with a bag. Now with each mower purchase the bag stays clean as the day I purchased the mowers. Mulch leaves in the Fall too. Never bag. Learned yhis from Michigan State Ext

  • @kiwitownmowing6798
    @kiwitownmowing6798 Жыл бұрын

    He said mow two or three times a week, who has time for that

  • @COCHOSCO

    @COCHOSCO

    Жыл бұрын

    Retired people

  • @hpotter2954

    @hpotter2954

    Жыл бұрын

    People who don’t watch TV.

  • @NicBarella

    @NicBarella

    Жыл бұрын

    I got a robot do it everyday.

  • @TheBmonster1

    @TheBmonster1

    11 ай бұрын

    Mow a little bit take a break

  • @leonsoto8333

    @leonsoto8333

    11 ай бұрын

    Umm... then bag! 🫨🫨

  • @JurassicJolts
    @JurassicJolts21 күн бұрын

    Eventually I will be bagging and hot composting my clippings and leaves. I just moved and want to do a refresh of everything because I don’t know what did or did not get sprayed on my soil.

  • @henryallinger6560
    @henryallinger656010 ай бұрын

    Me and my friend are trying to start a landscaping business i have been mowing this house for a little over a month and its been hotter than normal would that thin out the grass or is that me not mulching enough?

  • @avflyguy
    @avflyguy20 күн бұрын

    Is this advice relevant to all types of grass? Seems like I have to bag my zoysia all the time during active growing season. Otherwise I would have to cut it every other day.

  • @woohunter1
    @woohunter113 күн бұрын

    Mid spring, my grass grows like crazy, have to mow it every 3 days. To slow it down, I’ll bag it once or twice in a row to take away some nitrogen.

  • @Anonymously4051
    @Anonymously405114 күн бұрын

    What is P&W? Informative and interesting, thank you. We bag and use clippings as mulch in gardens and low areas.

  • @Skarecrow1949

    @Skarecrow1949

    12 күн бұрын

    Pacific Northwest

  • @fernandoprado2660
    @fernandoprado2660 Жыл бұрын

    Great info Matt! Now, I would think mulching helps with retaining moisture in the soil. Yes?

  • @03bonneville
    @03bonnevilleАй бұрын

    Excellent information.

  • @cwj9202
    @cwj92022 жыл бұрын

    Great information. I live in the high desert where there is low humidity. Does that situation make a difference in mulching?

  • @lifeintornadoalley

    @lifeintornadoalley

    2 жыл бұрын

    I'm not a soil expert as he is, I just commercially cut. If it's too dry, I think the nutritional value goes down. That's about all I know on that. I do believe the grass blade will shut down and focus energy on the roots. But don't quote me on that

  • @williamnewsome5169
    @williamnewsome516911 ай бұрын

    I have always bagged. No thatch buildup, grass doesn't smother from summer heat, reduced chances of getting fungus and - incident of weeds and use of herbicides a thing of the past.

  • @denisemiller8474
    @denisemiller847420 күн бұрын

    I started mulching this year a month into my grass started turning yellow from the root up . I have so many mushrooms now . I water once or twice a week depending. In twenty minute intervals on each section of lawn. No grass looks so bad now from mulching I’ll never do that again.. it ruined my lawn.

  • @lifeintornadoalley
    @lifeintornadoalley2 жыл бұрын

    Always will depend on the blade you use and how sharp. The more you mow, the more you grind up more from last cut! Remember everyone ⅓ rule! You'll never worry about clumping and easier to manage. Soil will thank you. Keep these coming! Really enjoying these

  • @SoiLab

    @SoiLab

    2 жыл бұрын

    Glad you are enjoying the vids so far!

  • @bigpardner
    @bigpardner12 күн бұрын

    What about any effect on weeds? Let say you have a more than desirable number of weeds, say oxalis, in part of your lawn; would mulching possibly keep seeds in the lawn and distribute them whereas bagging and getting rid of it might help ?

  • @rickbeyer3424
    @rickbeyer3424Ай бұрын

    Doesn't the lawn mower's ability to mulch and of course the type of blade on the mower have an effect on the mulch?

  • @TheNudeBrewer
    @TheNudeBrewer16 күн бұрын

    Great video to learn the WHY of what is largely becoming incorrect advice. I think the first disclaimer is that *MOST* people aren't going to mow 2-3 times a week. You're *lucky* to get your once a week done. The second (which was talked about) is that it's going to vary widely by area. I live in Florida, and for easily 5-6 months of the year, the grass will grow an inch or more in just 3 days. For a typical home owner who's only going to mow once a week, there are **ZERO** situations in which it makes sense to mulch. You are *ALWAYS* going to have a tremendous amount of growth where mulching is just going to lead to accumulation. I learned this intuitively during my first years of home ownership, this video was great at explaining the science behind it. Even using the lesson from this video: have none of you ever raked leaves before? Sure, those nutrients may have been returned to the soil, but you're still left with the dried remains of that leaf. It still has to get removed. Same with the grass. I'd say for 85% or more people, bagging is the way to go. I have better things to do with my free time than be mowing my yard 3 days a week! lol

  • @ProCaddie

    @ProCaddie

    14 күн бұрын

    I am in Florida also and I had a service that never bagged and it seemed that I was geting a lot of weeds of all types starting to grow all over the lawn. They were also cutting the lawn next door to me and I know they had weed problem so my thinking was that by not bagging either lawn the weeds were being spread out all over the place. I decided to start cutting my lawn myself and bag every time hoping that along with a weed killer the problem will be solved...........we shall see.....

  • @jammosu6498
    @jammosu6498Ай бұрын

    Does it matter what type of grass you have?

  • @josephcason5844
    @josephcason5844 Жыл бұрын

    If you beg your grass and use that in compost. What do you use to replace the lost grass values removed from the yard Compost made to break down organic material These material can be used anywhere. You can make compost and use it on your yard and reduce the other things such as fertilizer . Compost is compost. Regardless materials used . Think about it.

  • @martinlipka
    @martinlipka2 жыл бұрын

    Would bagging grass clippings lower the amount of phosphorus in the soil over the course of a few years?

  • @rubenharris9241
    @rubenharris92412 жыл бұрын

    Is frequent side discharging equivalent to mulching?

  • @R900DZ

    @R900DZ

    Жыл бұрын

    Yes

  • @EdTomos
    @EdTomos Жыл бұрын

    How can you believe a guy that's just suggested mowing three times a week

  • @WhyJesus

    @WhyJesus

    9 ай бұрын

    Lol, maybe if you have a 20x20 patch of ground and it doesn't' rain every other day. The Lord said the harvest is ripe, but grass clippings ain't it!

  • @Wesquire

    @Wesquire

    3 ай бұрын

    But he's right. Why are you upset about it?

  • @EdTomos

    @EdTomos

    2 ай бұрын

    @@Wesquire who is upset?

  • @tycox8704
    @tycox8704Ай бұрын

    One challenge is that the typical mower doesn’t mulch well. Reportedly, a professional mower’s blades rotate at a much higher rpm which mulches thoroughly.

  • @MrYungsan
    @MrYungsan2 жыл бұрын

    Do you actually cut grass in that outfit? If so how do you keep clean? I always end up covered in sweat/dirt/grass.

  • @stevethea5250
    @stevethea5250Ай бұрын

    What is thatch

  • @EdTomos
    @EdTomos Жыл бұрын

    Do he really just say to spread the grass clippings along the perimeter on my property

  • @GritsToastJam
    @GritsToastJam17 күн бұрын

    At 7:05 why is there a guy cutting the mulched side with the bag?

  • @uf1978
    @uf197829 күн бұрын

    This has been proven over and over! Mulch all day every day!

  • @hydroaegis6658
    @hydroaegis6658 Жыл бұрын

    So basically bag it for most people who have a job.

  • @jammosu6498
    @jammosu6498Ай бұрын

    I cut every 3 days

  • @4Runner123
    @4Runner1232 жыл бұрын

    If you have weeds in your lawn does mulching spread more weeds in your lawn?

  • @lifeintornadoalley

    @lifeintornadoalley

    2 жыл бұрын

    That'll depend on the weed type. If it seeds via air, then yes it'll spread more. If it doesn't seed via air, then it shouldn't really spread. Just make sure you don't let the weeds get that mature to be able to seed.

  • @wobbled5609

    @wobbled5609

    Жыл бұрын

    Get your lawn sprayed, cut it and bag it, when the weeds have gone - mulch. Unless you have a small lawn, in which case just bag.

  • @wicusconradie

    @wicusconradie

    Жыл бұрын

    I had a big lawn in tropical area where everything grew. I never used herbicides on my lawn, and when I had new weeds, I just mowed more frequently. I always mow not lower than 1.5-2 inches. I always bagged, since I had a place to dump my clippings on my property. My lawn went from desert to getting frequent compliment from friends.

  • @scrambler69-xk3kv
    @scrambler69-xk3kvАй бұрын

    My experience has always been when I mulch, I seem to get more ground moles. Don't know why maybe more grubs who knows. Besides it seems like the charge on my battery mower lasts longer when I bag. I think keeping that grass under the mower to be cut and recut as it does when you mulch works the motor harder than if you bag and the grass just gets right out from under the mower into the bag.

  • @northern_moss
    @northern_mossАй бұрын

    Why don't you want those bluegrass reseeding?

  • @realfire6883
    @realfire6883 Жыл бұрын

    I always bag, lawn looks better than mulching

  • @hpotter2954

    @hpotter2954

    Жыл бұрын

    Me too.

  • @billbright1755
    @billbright1755Ай бұрын

    Sharp blades are king for nice looking lawns. Mowers work easier cutting clean and not mashing grass blades.

  • @yankeegardener9565
    @yankeegardener9565 Жыл бұрын

    Does bagging grass help cut down on weeds?

  • @hpotter2954

    @hpotter2954

    Жыл бұрын

    I find it does.

  • @JB-sc9vu
    @JB-sc9vu4 ай бұрын

    We have a reasonably well-kept lawn. Our neighbor next door has almost driven us out of our minds with his obsessive-compulsive behavior over his blade(s) of grass. Every 2nd day in summer (for hours). I wish he would empty the spiders out of his pockets and find a hobby, it is insane .

  • @patthemaniacful
    @patthemaniacful Жыл бұрын

    Side throw and let it go

  • @tsquared4831
    @tsquared48312 ай бұрын

    You should be mulching . Because when you bag the grass. You actually waste the nitrogen in the grass. Your lawn needs the nitrogen to thicken up with

  • @liquidmocofilmsllc4915
    @liquidmocofilmsllc4915Ай бұрын

    Always bag!!! Grass (plants) blood is water. Nothing happens in a plant without water. Thatch will absolutely choke out your water supply increasing your water bill and wasting water. All I do are lawn renovations and lawn fertilization and weed control. The little benefit of mulching isn’t worth it.

  • @wally7856

    @wally7856

    26 күн бұрын

    Grass clippings are completely different from thatch and do not contribute to thatch.

  • @stoonley4

    @stoonley4

    26 күн бұрын

    @@wally7856that’s is false.

  • @christfollower122491
    @christfollower12249129 күн бұрын

    I mulch simply cause it’s easier lol

  • @kingposeidon9362
    @kingposeidon936210 ай бұрын

    Another reason to bag is to remove disease-affected grass blades.

  • @sheezy2526
    @sheezy25267 ай бұрын

    I mulch coz im lazy

  • @Bricks56
    @Bricks56Ай бұрын

    I never ever bag

  • @KapitanWoods
    @KapitanWoods16 күн бұрын

    "Mole-ching" 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

  • @txterbug
    @txterbug21 күн бұрын

    Always bag. Looks 10x better. Can wait longer in between.

  • @ByGraceThroughFaith777
    @ByGraceThroughFaith777Ай бұрын

    If you have dogs, trust me, you bag.

  • @dekaywill4572
    @dekaywill45722 ай бұрын

    My neighbor cuts his grass at 10 PM in the dark. Is he crazy?

  • @icxcnika9399

    @icxcnika9399

    2 ай бұрын

    Vampire maybe?

  • @bocephus124

    @bocephus124

    Ай бұрын

    Maybe special, bless his heart

  • @TrapZoneCanine

    @TrapZoneCanine

    Ай бұрын

    @@icxcnika9399definitely a vampire

  • @ericcomfort6228

    @ericcomfort6228

    Ай бұрын

    Is it super hot where you live? I’m in Georgia and I’ve done mine in the dark because it was just too hot during the afternoon.

  • @michaelavery1978
    @michaelavery197811 ай бұрын

    My clippings are weeds, not weed suppression. Lol

  • @marcstoogood8478
    @marcstoogood8478 Жыл бұрын

    Lost me at candy bar

  • @pewpewkachew4735
    @pewpewkachew4735 Жыл бұрын

    What sad person mows 3x a week?

  • @riflebear1711

    @riflebear1711

    21 күн бұрын

    Anyone with a legendary lawn.

  • @macdelttorres3366

    @macdelttorres3366

    20 күн бұрын

    My neighbor is on his lawn every day….. cutting, edging, seeding etc….. spends about an hr and a half a day…. His lawn doesn’t look too good

  • @kaytee7607

    @kaytee7607

    18 күн бұрын

    Retirees

  • @RobCowie
    @RobCowie21 күн бұрын

    I bet he's a "fun-ji" at parties...

  • @hocstix
    @hocstix2 ай бұрын

    Mow two to three times a week - get real that’s an overkill. I stopped watching video at this stage!!!

  • @Capoots
    @Capoots Жыл бұрын

    Be careful using lawn clippings with fertilizers that aren’t organic around your garden. I don’t use my clippings in my gardens at all

  • @leadnsteel1428

    @leadnsteel1428

    Жыл бұрын

    I use shredded leaves... They have many benefits for the plants.

  • @justanotherchannel6097
    @justanotherchannel609726 күн бұрын

    Grass is waste of time

  • @freedomliberty7611
    @freedomliberty76112 жыл бұрын

    This is the problem with most of today's reviews. Always an agenda. Green people. Mulching is no good period. Mowing 3 times a week? Please. I have been doing lawns my whole life.with no bias don't mulch bagging is always better.

  • @NorthlanderMN

    @NorthlanderMN

    Жыл бұрын

    Bagging all the time is taking from the soil all the time. With out fertilizing or water in a drought they’d be the first to die off with water restrictions. Bagging is an old habit that done mostly by seniors.

  • @xenomorph7299

    @xenomorph7299

    Ай бұрын

    Bagging is dumb no fertilizer.

  • @DoesNotEqual14
    @DoesNotEqual14Ай бұрын

    Trying to imagine giving a single solitary fuck about this

  • @EastCoastReefer
    @EastCoastReeferАй бұрын

    Never mulch with newly laid sod. Thatch will not break down.