In your quest to be a little more eco-friendly, you’ve decided to take up grasscycling (aka leaving grass clippings on your lawn as a natural fertilizer). But sometimes, those clippings come out as clumps on your lawn rather than finely shredded blades. So, how can you prevent grass clumping when mowing?
For starters, cut your grass more often, maintain your lawn mower, and never mow your lawn when it’s wet. We’ll explain in more detail below, so keep reading.
How To Keep Grass From Clumping When Mowing
Never Mow Wet Grass
Not only does pushing a lawn mower on wet grass set you up for an accidental slip and fall, it also causes grass to stick together when cut, thus clumping. When these clumps are ejected from the mower, they’ll stay in one spot; this can prevent sunlight and nutrients from reaching the turf roots underneath, compromising the health of your lawn.
Clumps can also clog up your mower, which can cause it to automatically shut off due to safety reasons. Then, you’ll be forced to stop mid-mow to clear the undercarriage before you can continue your task.
After it rains, wait a day or so before cutting to make sure the grass is completely dry (if it’s dry to the touch, you’re good to go); otherwise, you can avoid cutting dew-damp grass by mowing in the morning (around 8:30 a.m. in the summer and 10:30 a.m. in the spring and early fall).
Increase Your Mowing Frequency
When grass is overgrown, it can take a toll on your mower if you try to cut the excess all at once, causing clumping. Be sure to stick to a regular mowing schedule — typically once every one to two weeks, depending on grass type — so you’re only taking off one-third of the blade of grass at a time.
Note: If your grass has grown too long, you can avoid clumping by doubling up on your mowing that week, only cutting off one-third of the blade each time until your grass is back to its optimal height. For more information, check out these lawn mowing tips.
Use the Right Tools
If you’re attempting to mulch grass clippings with a lawn mower that’s not outfitted specifically with mulching blades, you could cause clumping, as well. An actual mulching mower (or converted regular mower), on the other hand, will slice through the same blades of grass multiple times, making them finer and easier to spread across the lawn.
Check out our recommendations for the best mulching lawn mowers.
Maintain Your Mower
Routine maintenance can also help reduce the occurrence of clumping when mowing. For a full rundown on how to care for your mower, check out our DIY lawn mower maintenance guide.
For instance, dull mower blades won’t be able to slash through your grass as easily, which can lead to clumping and buildup. So, how often should you sharpen mower blades? The general rule of thumb is to sharpen your blades after every 20 to 25 hours of mowing; for residential lawns, this could translate to sharpening once a year before your first mow of the season.
Keep your mower clean, as well, especially the underside of the mower. Grass clippings, dirt, and leaves can collect over time, and if not cleared away, can cause clumping. To clean, wipe down the front side, and then flip your mower to the side and use a cloth to remove caked-on dirt and debris.
Note: Always ensure your mower is turned all the way off before cleaning, so you don’t accidentally injure yourself.
FAQ About Grass Clumping
How can I stop grass from sticking to my lawn mower?
After cleaning and drying your mower, you can prevent grass from sticking to the undercarriage again by spraying it with a professional, non-stick lubricant made from Teflon, graphite or silicone. Or, if you don’t have any of those on hand (and don’t feel like trekking to the store), use a non-stick cooking spray, instead.
Can I put a mulching blade on a regular lawn mower?
Yes. All you have to do is replace your standard blades with mulching blades using a mulching conversion kit. Kits typically include mulching blades, mulch plate, mulch plug, and/or mounting hardware.
What is a no-mow grass or grass alternative?
Another way to never worry about grass clumping ever again? Switch to a no-mow lawn. A few examples include:
- Plant grass seed blend of fine fescue and hard fescue
- Use groundcovers (e.g., creeping sedum, creeping thyme, mondo grass)
- Ornamental grasses (e.g., fountain grass and feather grass)
Hire a Pro to Care for Your Grass
By making just a few adjustments to your lawn mowing and maintenance routine, you can easily prevent clumping from happening. Then again, if this chore just isn’t something you’re interested in at all, you can always hire a lawn care professional near you. They’ll bring their own equipment, cut your grass to the appropriate height, and advise you on your lawn’s other needs, such as fertilizing, aerating, and liming.
Main Photo Credit: 2tun / Adobe Stock
