Here’s how to pick grass clippings after you mow:
- Use a lawn sweeper.
- Use a backpack leaf blower.
- Bag grass clippings while you mow.
- Collect them manually.
- Cut around the parameter of the yard for less manual work.
- Leave grass clippings on the turf as mulch.
Looking to retire your good old rake? Don’t know how to collect grass clippings any other way?
I am here to help you out! I’ve just recently started using other methods for collecting grass clippings. I’ve managed to cut the time I spend outdoors landscaping in half, and I am not mad at it!
You too can make your life easier by learning some of the new and improved ways of picking up small debris. You can stick to one method or use multiple for the best results. Let’s take a look together, shall we?
Contents
5 Ways To Pick Up Grass Clippings + Extra Tip
Use A Lawn Sweeper
Many homeowners haven’t heard of lawn sweepers yet! If you are one of these people, you are in for a treat.
A lawn sweeper is a mechanical device designed to pick up grass clippings, leaves, pine needles, and other small bits of yard waste off the ground for your compost. What I like about this gadget is that it doesn’t need an engine to do its job, excluding commercial lawn sweepers.
Lawn sweepers pick up yard debris with brushes that rotate when the wheels start turning.
This is, in my opinion, the best part because I don’t like dealing with smelly gasoline and oil changes.
These brushes sweep the lawn and collect the organic matter into the hopper. Once the hopper is full, you can dispose of its contents in a garbage can or a compost pile. You can even use the fresh green stuff for animal feed.
You can choose between two types of lawn sweepers:
- A push lawn sweeper is suited for those who have a push mower.
- A tow-behind lawn sweeper is best for those who use a riding lawn mower.
Needless to say, a lawn sweeper is well worth its price, especially if you are no longer capable of manually raking and bagging grass clippings and you want to compost after you’ve mowed.
Use A Leaf Blower
This may come as a surprise to you, but you can use a leaf blower on grass clippings, as well. If you want to blow fresh grass clippings, you will need a strong leaf blower. A gas backpack leaf blower will do the trick.
If you don’t own this type of machinery, you may get mixed results with your hand leaf blower. In my experience, it is best to leave grass clippings on the turf for a day or two to dry before blowing them onto a pile.
It won’t hurt if you try using the leaf blower that you already have in your garage. It may work perfectly fine. Just a heads up though – you will still have to use your rake to gather clippings and dump them on a compost pile or use them as feed.
Bag As You Mow
One of the easiest ways to pick up grass clippings is to bag them as you mow. You will need a lawn mower with a bagger for this method. You don’t have to buy a whole new mower if you don’t have one. You can simply purchase a universal bagger attachment or one that fits your particular model.
Lawn mowers that pick up grass clippings feature either a bin or a sack. In my experience, bin collectors are easier to dump but a hassle to store. Fabric collectors are easy to store but are a nightmare to empty and clean when trimming wet grass.
Needless to say, bagging grass trimmings as you mow may be the easiest way to build up your compost pile. You won’t have to go over your large yard with any special tools or switch your regular blade for a mulching blade, which is a big plus.
Mow Around & Around
Instead of going up and down with your mower as you usually do, try going around the perimeter of the yard with the discharge chute pointing towards the middle. By doing this, you will direct grass clippings toward the center of the yard and go over them repeatedly with each pass you make.
When you finish landscaping, you will end up with one or two rows of grass clippings, which are much easier to collect manually.
Stick To The Good Old Rake
If none of the options presented above suit you, you can still give your trusty rake a try.
Piling and bagging grass trimmings shouldn’t be difficult if you keep up with your landscaping schedule. The taller you let your grass grow, the more elbow grease you will need to have it mowed and collected. On the bright side, raking can keep you in good shape if you don’t have time or will to exercise.
Watch this video for more useful tips on how to rake your grass and remove thatch.
Extra Tip: Mulch Grass Clippings
Here’s some good news for you! You don’t have to pick grass clippings if you don’t want to! You can leave clippings on the garden lawn as mulch without causing fungal diseases. It is a great way of returning nutrients to the soil without having to build a compost pile.
You can shred grass clippings by going over your lawn twice, the second time going in the opposite direction. This way you will cut up grass clippings into fine debris.
You can also trim your garden lawn taking little by little from the top. Set the mower deck on a higher setting and lower it when doing a second pass. This cutting method will also create a fine mulch layer that will easily decompose.
Still, the most efficient way to create grass shreds is to switch the regular mower blade to a mulching blade.
Disadvantages Of Mulching
I must say that lawn mulching has many benefits, but can also be risky. If not done correctly, you can suffocate your garden lawn or spread a fungal disease.
This happens when a thick layer of green debris can’t decompose in time. It starts rotting and/or blocking out the sun and rain. I avoid this disaster by only leaving grass clippings ¼ inch thick to compost on my lawn. I suggest you read more about the disadvantages of mulching grass and plants.
FAQs
What is the fastest way to pick up grass clippings?
The fastest way to pick up grass clippings is to gather them as you mow. You won’t have to use any special tools or make extra passes on your lawn. Using a lawn sweeper is also a good option. Click here to see which method is better.
Does a hover mower collect grass?
A hover mower collects grass only if it has a built-in vacuum and a grass box. Not all hover mowers are designed to gather grass. Some are purely made to cut grass.
Does a Flymo collect grass?
Find A Method That Works For You
You see? There are many ways to pick up grass clippings. You can invest in a lawn sweeper or a lawn mower bagger to give yourself a much-deserved break. Let’s not forget that you can leave grass clippings on the lawn as mulch and call it a day!
I am sure you will find a method that works for you! Do you agree? Let me know in the comments below, and feel free to ask me any questions. I would love to hear from you.
