12 Clever Ways to Use Leftover Lawn Clippings

Co-authored by Grant Wallace and Devin McSween

Last Updated: December 16, 2022 References

After you finish mowing your lawn, it can be hard to know what to do with the grass clippings that are left behind. There are actually plenty of easy, beneficial, and fun ways you can use your clippings. In fact, the best thing you can do with your clippings is simply to leave them in your yard! We’ve provided you with 12 great ideas on how to use your grass clippings that span from fertilizing your lawn to creative pursuits like making your own paper.

Things You Should Know

Keep your clippings in your yard to fertilize your lawn.
Use clippings as mulch or add them to your compost, soil, or garden.
Take unwanted clippings to your recycling center or donate to friends, neighbors, farms, or plant nurseries.
Get creative and make clothing dye or paper with your leftover clippings.

1

Fertilize your lawn with your grass clippings.

Leave your grass clippings in your lawn to decompose. Grass clippings will fertilize your lawn for you, adding back much needed nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The clippings will also water your lawn, as grass is about 80% water, which will save you time and money.^{[1]
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- Rake and spread out any wet clumps to prevent them from smothering and damaging your grass.^{[2]
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- Contrary to the popular belief, leaving your clippings on your lawn will not cause thatch. Thatch is caused by over-fertilizing and overwatering. However, do not leave clippings on already thatched areas.^{[3]
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- You can buy a mulching mower or install a mulching blade on your existing mower to dispense the cuttings into your yard and cut them more finely. However, a regular mower will trim your grass perfectly fine.^{[4]
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2

Take your clippings to a recycling center.

Don't throw your clippings in the trash. Besides being wasteful, many states have banned yard waste from landfills. Instead, check if your local recycling center accepts yard waste. Bag your clippings in a compostable bag to stay eco-friendly.^{[5]
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- Some municipalities have pick-up services where you can leave your bagged clippings on the curb. Check to see if this service is offered to your area, when they regularly pick up clippings, and their rules for bagging your clippings.^{[6]
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- Many recycling centers charge a small fee for dropping off or picking up materials.^{[7]
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3

Water your garden with a grass clipping fertilizer.

Steep grass clippings in water to create a fertilizer. Fill a 5 gallon (19 liter) bucket about ½ full with grass clippings. Fill the rest of the bucket with water. Steep the cuttings for several days, stirring once each day. Strain the mixture into a new bucket, removing the cuttings. To use, dilute the fertilizer with water in a watering can and give your plants a good shower.^{[8]
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- Do not use grass clippings that have been treated with chemicals.
- There is such a thing as too much fertilizer. Check how much fertilizer your plants need and how often.^{[9]
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- Compost the used clippings once they’re dry.

4

Use your grass clippings as mulch.

Grass clippings can beautify and protect your lawn. Grass mulch will prevent weed growth, regulate soil temperature, and deter pests like slugs from eating your plants.^{[10]
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Research source} Dry your clippings in the sun for a day before spreading around your garden beds and borders. Keep the grass mulch 1 inch (2.54 cm) thick or less. ^{[11]
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- Do not use grass as mulch if it’s been treated with herbicides or other chemicals.^{[12]
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5

Compost your grass clippings.

Recycle grass clippings to create nutrient rich fertilizer. Add 1 part grass clippings with 3 parts dried leaves and straw to your compost pile. Grass clippings add much needed nitrogen to your compost once it’s decomposed. Add the compost into your existing soil or use it as a potting mix.^{[13]
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- Do not compost grass clippings alone, as they can prevent the compost from receiving oxygen, produce unpleasant odors, and reduce decomposition time.
- Turn your compost regularly to improve oxygen flow and reduce odors.^{[14]
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- If you don’t have a compost pile, it is easy to build one.

6

Incorporate grass clippings into your soil.

Improve your soil’s nutrients and moisture with grass clippings. Till your soil about 6 inches (15 cm) deep and spread a layer of fresh grass clippings about 2 inches (5 cm) thick. Till the area again to mix the clippings and soil together.^{[15]
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Research source} At a deeper level, the clippings will decompose slower, so plant flowers or shrubs with deep roots that can reach this nutrient rich soil.^{[16]
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7

Start a lasagna garden with grass clippings.

Lasagna gardening is a low-maintenance way to garden. Choose an area to start your garden and place a thin layer of twigs on the ground. On top of that, add a 2 to 6 inch (5 to 15 cm) layer of dry leaves and a 1 to 2 inch (2 to 5 cm) layer of grass clippings. Continue to alternate the layers until you have about 2 layers of each. Top it off with more dry leaves, shredded newspaper, and cardboard.^{[17]
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- The materials will break down over 4 to 5 months to create a nutrient rich garden ready for planting.
- The basis of lasagna gardening is to layer brown, carbon-rich materials like leaves, straw, and newspaper with green, nitrogen rich materials like grass clippings, compost, and manure.^{[18]
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- You can also build a raised garden for your lasagna garden.

8

Donate your grass clippings.

Recycle clippings among your local community. If you don’t have any use for your clippings, reach out to friends, family, or neighbors. Some people don’t have yards with grass, and might want your clippings for composting, mulching, or DIY projects. You can even call local farms to see if they can use your grass clippings as feed for their horses and cattle, or contact plant nurseries in your area who might want clippings for composting or mulching.^{[19]
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- Do not donate grass clippings that have been treated with chemicals.

9

Use grass clippings as food and bedding for your pets.

Household pets like bunnies and guinea pigs love grass. Spread a thin layer of grass clippings on a baking sheet and set it in the sun to dry. Wait until the clippings are completely dry before feeding to your pets or using them as bedding in their cage.^{[20]
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- Do not feed your pets grass clippings that were treated with chemicals.
- Compost unused or old grass clippings.

10

Add grass clippings to a worm bin.

Grass clippings are a great food source for worms. Set your grass clippings out to dry, then add a small layer into the worm bin. Like with regular composting, you want twice as much brown materials, like leaves or paper, to green materials, like grass clippings, in your worm bin.^{[21]
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- It is easy to make a worm bin if you don’t already have one.

11

Create a green dye with your grass clippings.

Soak grass clippings in water to make a natural dye. In a stainless steel pot, add 1 quart (1 liter) of grass clippings and cover with water. Let the clippings soak overnight, then bring the pot to a boil for 30 minutes. Strain the dye into a new container, removing the grass.^{[22]
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12

Make paper with your grass clippings.

Journal or create art on homemade grass paper. You can make your own paper with grass clippings with one extra step. Just blend your grass clippings with water in addition to blending shredded paper with water. Add both the blended paper pulp and clippings into your pan when you start pulling the paper.^{[24]
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Warnings

Do not use or donate your grass clippings if they have been treated with herbicides, pesticides, or any other chemicals.^{[32]
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Don’t burn your grass clippings. Burning clippings releases a lot of smoke and carbon that is harmful to you and the environment. Depending on where you live, it may even be illegal for you to burn grass clippings.^{[33]
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Check your state’s rules on putting your grass clippings in the garbage. Along with being wasteful, throwing away your clippings is banned in several states.^{[34]
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