Grass Recycling

A: Mow without a bag

Leave the grass catcher off and leave the clippings on your lawn. (They make a great natural fertilizer.) That way you can save time, get a great lawn, and help the environment all at once. It will help to follow these suggestions, too.

1. Only cut the top third of grass each time you mow.

2. Mow every 5-7 days during spring and summer. Grasscycling only takes about half as long as bagging.

3. Mow your lawn when it's dry.

4. Keep your mower blades sharp.

5. Only 1 inch of water is needed each week (including rainfall). Or about 10-20 minutes of watering for a healthy growth in the summer. Your lawn might require a little more or less water. A half-inch per week is enough for fall and spring. Water in the morning.

6. If you get runoff, that means you're watering too much.

7. Your lawn needs less fertilizer when you grasscycle. Your lawn naturally grows faster in the summer. If you still want to apply fertilizer, use the slow-release kinds in fall and spring for steady growth.

8. Consider buying a mulching mower when it's time for a new one.