Grasscycling means . . .

. . . leaving the grass clippings on the lawn after mowing, so they decompose and release their nutrients into the soil.

Grasscycling is a faster, less costly and easier way to maintain a healthy lawn. It reduces mowing time by as much as 20 minutes per hour, and decreases hauling time and disposal fees.
Many successful landscapers and turf professionals have made grasscycling a central part of their businesses. Grasscycling can be important to your business, too.

3 Simple Steps:

1. Mow often and mow dry.
   Make your crews aware of the optimal conditions for grasscycling. Grasscycling works best when the grass is dry and the clippings are short. Mowing no more than 1/3 the leaf blade minimizes the stress on the lawn and produces shorter clippings. However, most professionals find it difficult to follow the 1/3 guideline since they mow according to a schedule, not grass height. Try to schedule mowing o days the lawn is not watered or later in the day when the grass tends to be dry.
   
   
2. Maintain and adjust your equipment.
   Sharpen your blades often-at least once a week-and keep them clean and balanced. A clean cut limits water stress, lowers the chance of disease entry and minimizes brown tips. And a clean mower deck helps keep clippings from forming clumps.
   
   
3. Leave the clippings on the lawn!

Alamada County Waste Management Authority offers free resources with more information about grasscycling:

• A Landscaper's Guide to Grasscycling: Save Time, Save Money and Create Beautiful Lawns
• Una Guia del Jardinero para Reciclar Pasto
• A Case Study: Grasscycling

MANY SUCCESSFUL LANDSCAPERS AND TURF PROFESSIONALS HAVE MADE GRASSCYCLING A CENTRAL PART OF THEIR OPERATIONS. GRASSCYCLING CAN BE IMPORTANT TO YOUR BUSINESS, TOO.

AND GRASSCYCLING IS AN EASY, SOUND, FIRST STEP TOWARDS LANDSCAPING IN A BAY-FRIENDLY MANNER.

BAY-FRIENDLY LAWN CARE
In our Mediterranean climate, a lawn can be costly to maintain, wasteful of precious resources and a source of pollution. Eliminating large expanses of non-functional turf and designing only small lawns that are used for play and relaxation is essential to landscaping in an environmentally friendly manner - a Bay-Friendly manner. Managing all turf to conserve resources while minimizing environmental impacts, thus providing your clients and the community with safer lawns, are also crucial practices of the Bay-Friendly Landscaping professional. Grasscycling is one part of a sound program for creating lush turf without chemicals. Here are more ways to build fertile soils and vigorous, deep-rooted grasses that resist disease and drought:

• Rethink the lawn: Lawns continue to be a part of our culture. But maybe it is time to rethink what we mean by a lawn. Install something besides grass, particularly on narrow strips, steep slopes, in shady areas or near creeks and the bay. Alternatives include native grass & wildflower meadows or groundcovers.
• Grasscycle as often as possible.
• Aerate, then topdress with compost. Overseed to fill in thin spots and crowd out weeds. Topdress with ¼ inch of fine compost up to four times per year.
• Phase out the scheduled application of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Fertilize lightly with an organic fertilizer or slow-release synthetic fertilizer after a soil analysis or demonstrated need. Natural or slow-release fertilizers, such a sulfur or polymer-coated urea, release nutrients slowly.
• Employ state of the art irrigation management to prevent over watering.
  • Water deeply to encourage deeper root growth. Use a soil probe to check how deeply you've watered.
  • Upgrade to new irrigation controllers that use historical weather & temperature, solar or moisture sensors to adjust irrigation schedules. Select controllers with multiple programs to irrigate different hydrozones separately and the ability to detect problems like a broken sprinkler head.
  • Install a rain shut off device. Adjust watering schedule to match existing weather conditions as often as possible.
  • Check the system regularly for leaks, overspray, malfunctioning nozzles, and repair them immediately.
• Control pests through integrated pest management that includes
  • Tolerating some weeds
  • Hand pulling weeds
  • Discontinuing the use of weed & feed formulations
  • Use of natural herbicides
  • Use of beneficial nematodes
  • Use of compost tea for disease management and nutrient cycling

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Alameda County has adopted a plant debris landfill ban. For more information, click here.