The Ewing Green Team encourages residents to join their campaign for a greener town through grasscycling.
Grasscycling is the natural recycling of grass by leaving clippings on the lawn when mowing.
According to the Green Team, grass disposal may account for 10-20 percent of New Jersey’s municipal solid waste stream.
Grass clippings on left on lawns to decompose acts as a natural organic fertilizer, supplying half of the nitrogen growing grass needs to thrive.
Clippings, which are 80percent water, settle between the blades of grass where they shelter the roots from the sun and conserve moisture. They also cool the roots and block weed growth.
Grasscycling begins with setting lawn mowers to cut off a maximum of 1/3 of the length of the grass. The Green Team recommends keeping grass mowed to 2 inches in early spring, gradually raise the height to 3-4 inches by summer, then gradually reduce to 2” by late fall.
Most new mowers are mulching mowers, which leave the grass clipping behind rather than collect them. Mulching equipment can also be attached to existing mower. The team suggests asking lawn mower dealers if a mower needs a special safety plug or adapter kit to convert it into a ‘recycling’ mower.
The Green Team said there are times when grasscycling does not work. Prolonged wet weather, mower breakdowns or infrequent mowing are situations where the large number of grass clippings should probably be collected. When collected, grass can be added to compost piles or used mulch around trees, flower beds and shrubs.
The Green Team meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at the Ewing Senior and Community Center from 7 to 9 p.m.
More information is online at ewinggreenteam.wordpress.com.
