Don't Bag It

Composting helps reduce the amount of yard waste in landfills. It also returns valuable nutrients to your soil. You can start a compost bin by layering organic materials. 

Layer 1:  Add 3 to 4 inches of organic matter, such as leaves or dried grass.

Layer 2:  Add 3 to 4 inches of green materials, such as kitchen vegetable scraps, fresh grass clippings, or green plant materials. 

Do not add pet waste, meat scraps or fat, diseased plants or noxious weeds to your compost bin. 

Helpful Composting Resources

Your Guide to Composting for Water Conservation(PDF, 5MB)

Recycling Yard Waste: Don't Bag It, Leaf Composting

 Alternatives to bagging your lawn waste

  • Use a mulching lawn mower and leave grass clippings on the lawn. Clippings return nutrients, like nitrogen, which keep the grass green and lower fertilizer costs. Leaving clippings also reduces landfill waste and saves time. Sweep clippings off the driveway or street so they do not wash into storm drains.
  • Rake up grass clippings and compost them. If you recently used an herbicide, leave the clippings on the lawn instead of composting.
  • If leaves cover your lawn, mow over them with a mulching mower. They will break down and add organic matter to the soil. You can also compost the leaves and add finished compost to flowerbeds.
  • Use a local composting service to pick up your organic yard waste.

Do clippings build up a thatch layer?

Thatch is a layer of undecomposed organic matter that can build up and create thick layer that restricts water and air movement. Grass clippings do not cause thatch when you properly maintain your lawn. Mow at the right height and before grass gets too tall. This helps grass clippings break down quickly and return nutrients to the soil. Thatch usually forms when lawns are overfertilized or overwatered because the grass grows faster than it can decompose.

More lawn tips to help you grow a healthy lawn

  • Go easy on the fertilizer. Always take a soil test before fertilizing the lawn. Fast-growing grass means more mowing.
  • Mow high and remove no more than 1/3 of the grass blade at a time. Taller grass helps shade the soil and hold moisture.
  • Keep your lawn mower blade sharp to avoid damaging the grass.

Oklahoma State University: Lawn Management in Oklahoma Factsheet

 

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