What should I do with grass cuttings?

Question

My bin collectors don't seem to want to take them, and I've got no where in my small garden to put them, so what am I supposed to do with them? (I live in the UK)

Answer 1

Chris -

I've used ours - with good success - to mulch the garden:  The mulch helps the garden to retain its moisture and seems to prevent more weeds than it inadvertently plants.

Another option is composting which would reduce the bulk while providing food for the garden.

Is there a farm (with cattle, pigs, sheep, free-range chickens...) nearby?  All those critters love fresh grass clippings!

Finally, if you have a neighbor you don't particularly care for, and the fence isn't too high....(NO!, don't even suggest that, Richard.)

Answer 2

pile them for compost. A pile will take around 2 weeks to compost to half oringinal size. Adding lime or a microbial soil conditioer will speed that process up.

Answer 3

Chris, you should re-use your grass as mulch.  In England it stays much moister than here in Arizona and the grass would act as a cover for the soil, keeping it moist.  Spread the grass out around the garden and no one would notice it.  The grass will decompose before the end of the season.

Answer 4

Do you not have a 'green bin' scheme in your area?  We've got the usual black for household, green for........well, green stuff LOL, and blue for paper.  The council collect them all.  The other option if you don't want to start a compost heap is to take it to the local tip.  They should have a recycling facility for garden waste there.

Answer 5

There are a few options, get a mulching mower, try to make room for a  compost pile, or spread them over your garden, where they will eventually decompose and make food for your plants.

Answer 6

We have a compost container.  The clippings make lovely rich soil when they decompose, which doesn't take long at all.