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Can I leave the grass clippings on the lawn?

Last Updated: January 05, 2012

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Returning clippings to a lawn has been shown to reduce the needs for maintenance. Clippings do not contribute to thatch buildup, and leaving the clippings eliminates disposal issues. The only instance when clippings should be removed is if the turf has an obvious disease, and returning clippings would spread the disease over more of the lawn. When returning clippings, it is important to avoid clumps or windrows that may damage (smother) the underlying turf.

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