Why Grasscycle?
There are many benefits – both financial and ecological – to grasscycling. You can: Reduce yard waste by 20% - 40% or more. (North Carolina legislation prohibits yard waste from being discarded in landfills.)
- Save time, trouble and expense of bagging or putting yard waste in cans
- Save gas and energy required to transport and process grass clippings
- Reduce the need for fertilizer by one-third
- Reduce the demand for water
- Reduce negative impact on water quality from erosion and pesticide application
- Provide moisture and nutrients to the soil and cushioning layers to reduce wear
Using grass clippings as a source of fertilizer for your lawn can save time and money and help protect the environment. Leaving grass clippings on your lawn can generate up to 25% of the lawn's yearly fertilizer needs and reduce the amount of time and money you spend fertilizing and bagging. Lawns stay greener and healthier when clippings are left on them. Grass clippings don't cause thatch. Thatch is caused by excessive growth from over-fertilizing; by allowing grass to get too high before mowing; or by incorrect watering. Too much thatch leads to uneven mowing, scalping, and drought stress.
Mowing
Any mower that is in good working condition and has a sharp blade can be used to grasscycle. Mulching mowers may be better than traditional mowers for those who can not mow on a regular basis. These mowers tend to cut grass into finer pieces, allowing it to filter down among the standing plants. With either mower, best results can be expected if the lawn is dry.
Use Grass Clippings in the Yard
As mulch, spread clippings over a layer of newspaper in your vegetable, flower garden or under trees. Never allow grass clippings to be released into the storm sewer system. Grass clippings will clog sewer lines, and residual pesticides/fertilizers go directly from sewer lines into surface water sources. Storm water is not put through a wastewater treatment procedure.
Yard Waste Pick Up
The City of Charlotte collects yard waste from the curb once a week on your scheduled collection day, provided it meets the following City ordinance requirements:
- Limbs: must be no longer than 5 feet and no larger than 4 inches in diameter. Limbs should be separated into piles small enough for one individual to handle.
- Stumps/Logs: Logs larger than 4 inches in diameter will not be collected.
- Contracted yard work: Limbs placed at curbside for collection resulting from commercial landscaping will not be collected.
For more information, call 704-432-1970 or Email
