Compost Magic: Transforming Mower Clippings into Garden Gold
Many people see their lawn clippings as a nuisance. They’re just one more thing you have to clean up in your yard! While it’s true that they can sit in a pile, getting in the way and looking unsightly, they can also be the main component of magical compost.
Your lawn clippings are a valuable addition to the average compost pile. Once they’re transformed into compost, you can put them in your garden to improve the soil quality and promote plant growth.
Are you ready to transform your mower clippings into garden gold? Here’s how:
Step 1: Collect Your Lawn Mower Clippings
The first step toward creating healthy compost for your gardens is collecting your lawn clippings. This won’t be hard for most yard-proud homeowners. If you’re regularly out in your yard tending to the lawns and gardens, you likely already have a collection method.
Step 2: Create a Compost Bin or Pile
After collecting your fresh, green lawn mower clippings, you now need somewhere to put them! A dedicated compost pile or bin can be the right spot. The size of your bin or pile can depend on the size of your lawns. After all, the more lawns you have, the more clippings they’ll produce!
Step 3: Layer the Clippings
As tempting as it can be to start dumping all your clippings in your compost heap to break down and form nutrient-rich compost, it doesn’t quite work like that. When you add too many clippings at once, they can become compacted and produce an awful smell.
Never layer more than around 10 centimetres of grass clippings into your pile at a time. Sometimes, this means you have to discard some of your clippings as green waste.
Step 4: Prioritise the Carbon-to-Nitrogen Ratio
There’s more to compost than lawn clippings alone. Lawn clippings are high in nitrogen, so they must be balanced out with carbon. Fortunately, there are plenty of natural materials that tick that box. You can place a layer of dried leaves, cardboard, straw, or paper on top of your lawn clippings to stop the clippings from matting together. The brown material is just as integral to quality compost as your lawn clippings are.
Step 5: Ensure the Right Moisture Content
You likely won’t need to worry about your grass clippings being too dry. After all, they typically have high moisture content. However, all it takes is for a string of dry weather to hit your region, and that can be the reality.
Grass clippings in a compost file should feel similar to a slightly wet sponge. Add water until it feels damp but not soggy.
Step 6: Turn Your Compost Pile Often
Decomposition is integral to achieving excellent compost your plants will love. By turning your pile often, you can speed up this process and ensure your clippings don’t become matted together. The goal is to help oxygen get to all parts of the pile to break down the materials faster.
Some compost bins are tumbler-style, making it easy to mix the contents. If you just have a pile or a regular bin, a garden fork will be more than satisfactory for the job. As you add more grass clippings, keep mixing them through with your carbon materials and older grass clippings to distribute the nitrogen. Mixing can also prevent mats and clumps.
Step 7: Keep An Eye On the Temperature
While you might not pay much attention to your garden soil’s temperature, it can be worth monitoring your compost’s temperature. Temperature is one of the easiest ways to know whether you’re successful in creating compost. This is because heat is a byproduct of the microbial breakdown of organic materials.
Purchase a long probe that can reach down into the depths of the compost. Let the reading stabilise, and take a few more readings from the top and sides. If your compost is sitting at around 40 to 50 degrees Celsius, it has enough moisture and nitrogen for adequate microbial growth.
Step 8: Play the Waiting Game
Creating quality compost for your garden doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time and patience! All that’s left to do now is play the waiting game. Regularly mix and turn your compost, and monitor its temperature and moisture. It won’t be long until your compost is ready and waiting to find its new home on your garden beds.
Ask Crewcut Your Gardening-Related Questions
Whether you have more questions about compost or have another burning gardening-related question, you’re in the right place! You can contact the friendly team at Crewcut for gardening help and advice. We can also take care of all your gardening and lawn care needs! Whether you need lawn mowing, tree trimming, a garden tidy-up, or hedge trimming, we’re here to help.