A green and well-kept lawn is the dream of many hobby gardeners. Good care in summer is crucial for this. This raises the question: Should you mulch the lawn or mow it when the temperatures rise? We do the comparison.
Mulching or mowing the lawn in the heat: which is better for the lawn?
A well-maintained lawn is the pride of every amateur gardener. However, when it comes to care in the summer, opinions differ. Some people swear by mulching, others prefer to remove the lawn clippings and use them as fertilizer for the garden or dispose of them. But what is actually better for the lawn? We'll do the comparison!
To mulch the lawn or not? The advantages and disadvantages of the method in dry and hot conditions
When mulching the lawn, the grass clippings are left lying around to reduce the evaporation of water and to displace weeds. Special mulching mowers can distribute the clippings evenly over the lawn. This means that the biological material can then be better broken down by soil organisms and processed into valuable fertilizer. You can also reduce thatch through regular mulching.
Leaving grass clippings lying around: The advantages
+ Reduces water evaporation - moisture stays in the soil longer and the lawn is supplied with water evenly over a longer period of time.
+ There is no need to dispose of the lawn clippings in the compost or in a special organic waste bin.
+ Reduces thatch.
+ You have to fertilize less and less frequently because the grass clippings supply the soil with important nutrients. Mulching can provide up to 1 pound of nitrogen per year to the lawn. In comparison – a medium-sized lawn needs around 4 kg of nitrogen per year. Regular mulching can cover part of the nutrient requirements.
+ You only mulch when it is dry - the best time for this is summer. When it rains, the clippings will stick together and form an impermeable layer.
Mulching the lawn: the disadvantages at a glance
– You have to mow the lawn more often. The blades of grass must not become too high, otherwise there will be too much grass clippings and some of them will have to be disposed of. Otherwise, it can make it more difficult for the grass blades to access sunlight and nutrients. Mowing and mulching the lawn about once a week is recommended, especially in hot and dry conditions. The blades of grass must not be higher than 7 cm for the method to be truly effective.
– Time consuming. Basically, the larger the lawn area, the more effort it takes to mulch.
– Mulching can achieve different results depending on the type of soil. Impermeable clay soils generally retain moisture longer and do not need a layer of mulch. If the grass clippings are left lying around, the waterlogging offers the opportunity for moss to spread.
– Mulching cannot achieve good results in sandy, permeable and dry soil.
– Mulching is significantly more complex and difficult if the lawn has been treated with pesticides and fungicides. The chemicals kill soil life and there are hardly any microorganisms that can decompose the grass clippings. The consequences are waterlogging, moss and wilted grass.
Mowing the lawn in hot and dry conditions: In these cases you have to dispose of the lawn clippings!
The grasses begin to grow strongly from mid-May. At temperatures below 26 degrees Celsius you have to mow it regularly. About once a week is sufficient for most types of grass. However, if temperatures rise above 26° Celsius, the lawn should be mowed less frequently. On the one hand, because the grass slows down its growth above 26° and on the other hand, because higher blades of grass form deeper roots. Shecan water tooreach deeper soil layers.
The following generally applies: If the temperature is above 26° Celsius and the soil is sandy, it is better to dispose of the grass clippings or compost them. You can use it to fertilize the raised bed, flower bed or crop bed.
If the temperature is between 20° and 26° Celsius and the soil is loamy, impermeable, also dispose of the lawn clippings.
If the blades of grass are shorter than 7 cm, a layer of mulch can have a negative effect on their growth. In this case, the grass clippings must also be disposed of.
If the grass blades are shortened to two thirds, the grass cuttings must also be disposed of. The biological material will create too thick a layer of mulch that will smother the grasses.
Mowing the lawn in the heat: no longer necessary from 30 degrees
At 30° Celsius the grass stops growing and you no longer have to mow it. Only when the temperatures drop to around 26° - 27° Celsius can you mow it again. If there is a layer of mulch on the lawn, this will protect it from drought and slow down water evaporation.
Mowing or mulching the lawn: conclusion
Whether you leave the grass clippings lying around or dispose of them depends primarily on the temperatures, the height of the grass blades and the condition of the soil.
Mulching makes sense if the soil is permeable, the temperatures are between 20° and 28° and the grass is taller than 7 cm.
Mowing and disposing of grass clippings is recommended if the grass blades are shorter than 5 cm, the soil is loamy or sandy and the temperatures are between 28° and 30°.
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