Grass clippings excellent for lawn food and free
Q: I am tired of paying for the removal of my grass clippings. My husband thinks that the lawn is better off without the clippings. Is he right?
A: There are several myths about grass clippings on home lawns and he couldn't be more wrong. If mowing is done correctly, grass clippings are beneficial to the lawn, not harmful. The mower blade must be sharp. The grass should be mowed often enough that only one-third of the grass height is removed at each mowing to reduce it to the correct height for the type of grass in the lawn. The lawn should be dry when cut to reduce the spread of diseases. If a lawn is mowed when the clippings are too long, it is better to wait a day and to re-mow the lawn to cut up the dry clippings, not remove them.
Grass clippings contain the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that are in lawn fertilizer. In fact, leaving clippings on the lawn is equivalent to one fertilization that you don't need to pay for. Over 40 pounds of nitrogen are thrown away as grass clippings each summer from the average American lawn when clippings are removed.
In some cases, bagging the clippings and taking the bags out doubles the time required to mow a lawn. Grass clippings conserve water (saving money) by shading the soil from the hot sun and reducing moisture loss from evaporation. Clippings decompose quickly, thanks to soil microorganisms, worms and other animals, and the nutrients go back into the grass.
Grass clippings do not contribute to thatch accumulation. Dead grass blades from over the winter or from mowing are not thatch and not related to thatch in any way.
Paying for the removal of clippings is a waste of money, even if they are going to a composting center and not a landfill.
A mulching style of mower has blades that cut the clippings into fine pieces that break down faster and are less unsightly. If a mower has a bag on it that can't be removed safely, then bagging with that mower may have to continue.
Q: I collect water from my roof in a rain barrel. Is it OK to use this water to top off my 450-gallon small pond?
A: There are only a few things I would question. Water temperature is important to cold-blooded animals, so if there is a large difference in water temperature and a large amount of water used, it could be a shock, but as long as it is small amounts of water to top off the pond, I don't see a problem there.
If the barrel has any leaves or debris settled into it, bacteria could consume all the oxygen in the water in the barrel. Adding lots of water with a low-oxygen content to the pond could be a problem, but if it is added so the water splashes into the pond, that problem will be overcome.
Lastly, if the roof has any particular problems, such as areas of exposed tar, roofing asphalt or other chemicals that the water crosses, then bad chemicals could be washed into the barrel.
Q: I have a terra cotta fountain that I love, as do the birds and squirrels in my backyard. I do my best to keep it clean, as my back yard has huge trees that constantly drop leaves. But my biggest problem is getting rid of the algae.
A: Mixing a solution of 10 percent bleach and 90 percent water will work to clean the whole thing but should not be used as the birdbath water.
The concentration is too high and could hurt them if they swallow any of it. I think it could also bleach some of their colors, too. Once you have washed the pottery clean, rinse it with water and then refill it.
Bacterial products are also available, if you want a natural approach.
E-mail questions to Jeff Rugg, Kendall County unit educator, University of Illinois Extension at jrugg@uiuc.edu. Copyright 2009 Creators Syndicate Inc. A Greener View
