Four Reasons You Should Bag Your Zoysia Grass Clippings While Mowing (2024)

1. Control Spreading

Planting a zoysia grass lawn is one of the easiest things you can do. This is largely due to the fact that this grass is so hardy that you are only required to plant plugs with no need to seed the lawn. The zoysia grass will have no problem at all crowding out any other grasses you may have already growing in your yard. This is a great asset for getting your lawn planted with a single type of grass, but the zoysia grass has no intention of stopping there. As a very invasive grass, it will grow anywhere it can reach. This often means the takeover of your flowerbeds, vegetable garden and sometimes the lawns of your neighbors. Establishing good borders for your zoysia grass and bagging your clippings will help keep any spreading in check.

2. Clumping Difficulties

While you won’t find yourself spending all your time mowing your yard when you choose to plant zoysia grass, you may still have to deal with clumping issues when you finally do need to mow. When your mower leaves behind large clumps of grass rather than small little clippings, it can cause considerable damage to your lawn. If those clumps are left to sit on the lawn, then it can cause the live grass beneath it to be subject to disease, rot and ultimately death. Bagging your zoysia grass clippings will allow the grass that is left after a mowing to grow and thrive in a healthy manner.

3. Thatch Issues

This is a condition that simply refers to dead grass that is caught between the live healthy grass and the soil. When the dead grass is allowed to build up, your lawn will begin to feel unpleasantly spongy beneath your feet. This condition will also leave your lawn unable to absorb the sunlight, fertilizer, air and water it must have in order to stay alive and be as healthy as possible. You can stave off this problem simply by raking your lawn after you mow and bagging the grass clippings.

4. Beautiful Landscaping

Many homeowners choose zoysia grass to accentuate the rest of their beautiful landscaping. Just as many golf courses do, homeowners who want their lawns to be as sharp as possible will always bag the grass clippings and leave behind only the freshly mowed healthy grass.

The simple act of bagging your zoysia grass clippings after the infrequent mowing that is required will allow you to enjoy your mostly maintenance-free lawn without having to exert much effort. Invite your family and friends over for a backyard barbecue and have a great time showing off your beautiful lawn.

Four Reasons You Should Bag Your Zoysia Grass Clippings While Mowing (2024)

FAQs

Should zoysia grass clippings be bagged? ›

For most homeowners, we recommend bagging all clippings from Bermuda and Zoysia grass when you mow to prevent the buildup of thatch and debris in the lawn. If you mow frequently, though, you don't need to bag the clippings as they'll be short enough not to create a layer of thatch.

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Why should I bag my grass clippings? ›

Some people choose to bag their grass clippings for aesthetic reasons or to keep the clippings from being tracked into the house.

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What happens if you don't bag your grass clippings? ›

Grass clippings quickly decompose and return essential nutrients, such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, back to the soil. Use grass clippings to fertilize your lawn or to make compost to help fertilize your plants. Leaving your grass clippings on the ground can fulfill up to 25% of your lawn's fertilizer needs.

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Should Zoysia be mulched? ›

If prolonged rain or other factors prevent frequent mowing and clippings are too plentiful to leave on the lawn, they can be collected and used as mulch.

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What are the pros and cons of bagging grass clippings? ›

On the plus side, bagging grass clippings can help neaten a lawn and make it look more well-kept. It can also help with lawn pests like grubs and chinch bugs. Bagging grass clippings can also help to reduce thatch build-up. On the downside, bagging grass clippings can be time-consuming and labor-intensive.

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Should first lawn cut be bagged? ›

Start mowing

We recommend grasscycling whenever possible. It is a great way to turn those clippings into much-needed organic matter that will benefit your soil health. If grass clippings start to pile up on top of the lawn, it might be necessary to bag them.

What are the benefits of grass clippings? ›

Clippings are a valuable source of nutrients and you can use less nitrogen fertilizer if you recycle clippings to the lawn. Adding organic matter from clippings may help improve your soil if it is sandy, heavy clay or low in organic matter. Regular mowing will greatly reduce the need to collect clippings.

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Should you bag grass clippings in summer? ›

During the spring and early summer months, grass grows much quicker than in the later summer months. It might be best to bag your clippings in the spring and early summer when your lawn isn't as pressed for moisture. During the summer months when the grass is growing slower, bagging might not be as necessary.

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Does putting grass clippings on bare spots help grass grow? ›

The short answer is yes, according to lawn care experts. Leaving grass clippings on the lawn can actually be healthy for the grass, as it helps build a strong and nutrient-rich soil. This practice is known as “grasscycling,” and it has become increasingly popular in recent years.

Should I bag my grass clippings if I have weeds? ›

If you already have weeds, you should only mulch lawn clippings if you have time to pull all the weeds out, or at the very least, the seed heads. If you mulch, seeds will be left behind and the lawn mower will spread the weed seeds around your lawn. It's best to only mulch your lawn when it is completely free of weeds.

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Is there a downside to mulching grass? ›

Disadvantages

Because mulch blocks sunlight, it prevents some seeds from germinating. This is good for keeping weeds away from the beds, but not for your good seeds.
Slugs, earwigs, cutworms, and other pests love cool, dark, moist places.
Heavy rains can make the ground soggy for several days.

How to make zoysia grass greener? ›

To make your Zoysia grass greener, apply a high-quality fertilizer with a balanced nutrient ratio suitable for Zoysia grass. In addition, follow proper watering practices and ensure the grass receives adequate sunlight.

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How do I keep my Zoysia grass healthy? ›

Fertilization is essential to keep Zoysia grass healthy and vibrant. Apply a balanced fertilizer in the spring and early summer to promote growth. Avoid excessive nitrogen, as it can lead to thatch buildup.

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How to thicken zoysia grass? ›

FERTILIZE. Sodding Zoysiagrass also requires “feeding.” But nutrients often evaporate from the soil when your lawn is watered or rained on. Your grass will grow thicker and healthier with regular fertilization during the growing season. The need for fertilizer varies based on the square footage and climate.

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What not to do with grass clippings? ›

As a general rule, grass clippings of an inch or less in length can be left on your lawn where they will filter down to the soil surface and decompose quickly. Remove longer clippings because they can shade or smother grass beneath causing lawn damage. Don't throw out bagged grass clippings as yard waste.

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Can you cut grass without a bag? ›

The no-bag approach also saves you time (think about how often you stop and empty your bag when you mow) and reduces the amount of waste you have to drag to the end of your driveway each week during mowing season!

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Is it OK to put fresh grass clippings in the garden? ›

In the short term, a layer of grass clippings also acts as a mulch, cooling the soil, slowing the loss of moisture, and holding down the germination of new weeds. When used correctly, grass clippings can serve as a great mulch for your vegetable garden.

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