Keep grass clippings in check

Mowing the lawn is part of urban life around here. And the product of mowing? Grass clippings!! Often times grass clippings are left on the lawn, which is the preferred “disposal” method (grass clippings equal one application of nitrogen per year, reducing fertilizer needs). But, some of the excessive clippings inevitably find their way onto impervious surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks and streets. When a rain storm hits, all those clippings will travel to a storm drain and will result in something that looks like this:

To avoid your neighbors calling the authorities wondering what that creepy green stuff that is polluting the waters and killing the fish, sweep up your clippings! Grass clippings have nutrients that contribute to algae growth and eutrophication of water bodies. Thus, leaving your grass clippings on driveways, sidewalks, etc. for the rain to carry it away is just like pouring fertilizer directly into the water.

Don’t do it! 

Compost those clippings!