My impression on using a catcher while mowing lawn
 (Read 500+ times)
By Kate Furst
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Mowing Lawn - use a catcher or no catcher.
For years I had been convinced that by using the catcher on my lawn mower I would be removing nutrients gradually over time, and eventually would have a lower quality lawn as a result. My reasons for letting the clippings mulch into the earth were to replace any nutrients that had been removed from the soil. It was my initial belief that I would create a more dense lawn by having more nutrient retained in the soil, which would have the positive effect of keeping weeds to a minimum by a “strength in numbers” philosophy.
What I did not allow for was the adverse effect that mulching these clippings would have. Most notably, the clippings were creating a compost layer which acted like a impenetrable layer stopping anything from growing up through the soil. This was in fact a double edged sword; it stopped most weeds from growing through but also stopped any increase in density of the lawn. Over time, I noticed that although I was able to leave my lawn longer between mowing, the lawn itself was becoming thinner. This was the opposite effect to what I had wished for.
A second side effect of mulching my clippings back into the soil was that the earth retained moisture more effectively. This was beneficial during summer and the hotter months but became an undesirable attribute during times of heavier rain. My lawn became more susceptible to disease and its appearance suffered as a result of this saturation.
When I mowed my lawn and let the clippings remain to compost, I was also leaving the weeds and their associated seeds to remain in the soil, ready for the next growing season.
A fourth, and perhaps most obvious reason I have been happy to begin using the catcher, is for sheer appearance value. I had always been slightly envious of those who had used a catcher for this reason, even though I believed I would benefit in the long run with a richer lawn. It is my new belief that I have now seen the light!
A lawn needs fresh nutrient, that is true. This can be provided by adding fertilizer throughout the year, and there may be some merit to occasionally leaving the clippings during the warmer months when moisture retention is desirable. Leaving the clippings return nutrients to the soil and build up soil organic matter. Because there is no catcher to be emptied, mulch mowing speeds up the operation.
Catching the clippings has the advantage of providing finely divided raw material for composting or for mulch over garden beds and around trees. When adding lawn clippings to a compost heap, be sure to routinely turn your compost. Also, remember to add plenty of dry organic content as well as the more moist kitchen food scraps and other organic material.
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Author Bio Box: Kate Furst
Kate Furst is the founder of Andiamo Landscaping Mornington Peninsula.
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