Mulching lawn: procedure & professional instructions

Mulching is a real alternative to mowing the lawn. We show how to mulch the lawn and take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages.

Mulching the lawn is an interesting option, especially for ecologically-minded gardeners, because it closes the natural nutrient cycle. Nevertheless, there are also reasons that speak against mulching and in favor of mowing.

Mulching the lawn: Difference to mowing the lawn

When mulching the lawn, the clippings are not caught in a grass catcher, but are shredded by the special mulching mower and distributed directly on the lawn. The nutrients contained in the lawn clippings are broken down (mineralized) on the spot by soil organisms and are then available again for the soil and lawn. This nutrient cycle is the biggest difference to lawn mowing, in which the clippings are collected in the grass catcher. In most gardens where the lawn is “mowed”, the clippings are then transported to the public composting area. In this way, every time the lawn is cut, valuable nutrients disappear from the garden and are lost to the lawn forever. As a consequence, the mown lawn must then be supplied with new nutrients in the form of fertilizers. Mulched lawn, on the other hand, has to be fertilized far less often.

Mulching the lawn: how often and when?

Basically, the mulch should be chopped relatively small and only remain on the lawn in small quantities. The grass clippings must be able to fall through the mown lawn to the surface of the ground, where it can be broken down by soil organisms as quickly as possible. If too many and too long blades of grass are spread on the lawn as mulch, they remain as a layer on the surface of the lawn, take away this light and rot badly. The grasses then suffocate under the mulch layer. It is therefore best to mulch the lawn once a week and to adjust the mulching mower so that only two to three cm of grass clippings are left as mulch.

Depending on the season and the growing conditions for the lawn, it is sometimes better to mulch every five days (for example in May) and sometimes only after ten days (more in midsummer). It is also ideal to shorten the lawn with a length of six to seven cm to four to five cm with a mulching mower. The lawn must always be dry for mulching, so it should be ensured that there will be no precipitation about 24 hours after mulching.

Mulching the lawn: Even with a normal lawnmower?

So-called mulching mowers, which are used for mulching the lawn, are modified cylinder mowers. Not only do they mow the grass, they chop it up too. Because the chopped up grass residues can be broken down better and faster. A normal lawnmower cannot chop the grass small enough and is therefore not suitable for mulching. If you don't dare to buy a mulching mower because you fear that the lawn could quickly become too long, combined mulching mowers are suitable. Probably developed precisely for such cases, these devices can both mow normally and mulch - ideal if the lawn has grown too high during your vacation.

Mulching the lawn: Are the soil and location suitable?

For most locations, mulching is a great way to promote the lawn and soil and create a natural nutrient cycle. However, there are also locations and soil conditions where mulching does not work as well. This includes gardens with very heavy, impermeable soil, as well as shady and very rainy locations. Under these conditions, the mulch material does not rot due to the lack of sun and, in the worst case, even promotes the formation of thatch and moss. Mulching is therefore not advisable, especially if there is a combination of shade, rainy weather and poor soil. If you still want to use the nutrients from your lawn clippings, it is worth composting them and using them later as fertilizer for flowers and vegetables.

Extremely rainy periods can also occur in regions with moderate precipitation. Keep in mind that these damp conditions are less suitable for mulching. It is better to mulch with only two instead of three cm of lawn, switch your combination device to the mowing function or borrow the normal lawnmower from your neighbor.

By the way: On very sandy soils, which are rarely found in our country, mulching also works less well due to the low biological activity in the soil.

Which soils and locations are not good for mulching?

• Heavy, very loamy, poorly ventilated soils
• Shady locations
• Very rainy regions, especially in combination with heavy soil or Shadow lawn
• Very sandy soils
• All other common soil and site conditions with regular rainfall are ideal for mulching

Mulching lawn: advantages and disadvantages

What is meant by lawn mulching and how it differs from mowing the lawn has already been clarified. The question now arises as to what advantages mulching the lawn has or whether there are also disadvantages for the lawn. First, let's start with a well-known myth about lawn fertilization.

Mulching the lawn: do I no longer have to fertilize?

When a lawn is mulched, it regains a large part of the nutrients it lost when it was cut. But some of the nitrogen in the mulch is also lost by the soil organisms that do the mulching work. After all, they also want to eat something. Therefore, you should also mulch from time to time Fertilize the lawn. Of course, less than mowed lawn, but still at regular intervals. Look out for the signs of various nutrient deficiencies, such as the spread of Weeds in the lawn.

What are the benefits of mulching?

• From an ecological point of view, mulching offers a great advantage: the natural nutrient cycle is closed. Mulched lawns and soil do better than mowed lawns under normal soil and site conditions.
• The lawn is better supplied with food and therefore has a beautiful green color.
• The soil life is promoted and the soil structure is improved in the long term.
• In summer, mulching helps the lawn withstand drought better.
• Anyone who finds the disposal of the lawn clippings to be time-consuming can save work and time by mulching, as the green clippings can simply remain where they are.

What are the disadvantages of mulching?

• Mulching can be a challenge in very humid conditions, in very shady or very sandy and dry locations.
• A major disadvantage of mulching is the time it takes. The lawn grows very quickly, especially in humid and mild seasons such as late spring and you have to start the mulching mower at least once a week. This can be a nuisance for larger areas.

Mow or mulch the lawn? We will introduce you to the advantages and disadvantages of both methods.