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Washington is a haven of green, but all that emerald beauty requires constant upkeep. Our lush climate means lawns are thick and vibrant nearly all year long. Mowing is a chore, to be sure, but thanks to lawn care professionals like Spring-Green it can be done with maximum efficiency for both you and your yard.

Master gardeners and scientists alike agree, “How can you save time on lawn care chores, money on fertilizer, pay lower water bills and help the environment? By doing less and relaxing more in your garden…Instead of raking and disposing of cut grass from mowing, consider letting clippings lie on the lawn. Clippings break down quickly and encourage beneficial microorganisms and earthworms that digest thatch and maintain healthy soil…Studies show that it takes less overall time to mow more often and leave clippings on the lawn, compared to mowing weekly and bagging clippings.”

lawn clippings
A gorgeous lawn without an aching back? Consider mulching instead of bagging lawn clippings after you mow. Photo courtesy: Spring-Green Lawn Care.

Researchers at Oregon State University report add that “Unless you’ve let the lawn grow excessively long, or the clippings are in thick clumps, grass clippings are a good source of nutrients. Leaving clippings helps save fertilizer costs and thereby prevents ground and surface water contamination…Grass clippings contain up to the equivalent per weight of 3-4 percent nitrogen, .5 percent phosphorus and 2.5-3.5 percent potassium.”

The Spring-Green staff and owner Mike Bell, consider themselves “personally invested in the health of your lawn. We take pride in the work we do to beautify the greater Olympia, Washington community, because it’s our home too.”

lawn clippings
Spring-Green Lawn Care professionals work where they live. They understand regional quirks and provide knowledgeable products and solutions. Photo courtesy: Spring-Green Lawn Care.

“When you collect the clippings, you’re robbing your lawn of valuable nutrients,” Bell explains. “While we strongly recommend not catching the clippings after a fertilizer application for a few mowings, it is actually a good idea to leave the clippings after every mowing. Some of your Spring-Green fertilizer stays on and in the blades of grass so when you collect the clippings you are not receiving the full value of your fertilizer. Estimates by agronomists suggest that as much as one third of your lawn’s nitrogen requirement is supplied by the breakdown of clippings.”

And mulching, instead of bagging, protects the environment, groundwater, and your aching back. “This unwieldy waste comprises up to 20 percent of the solid waste collected in the United States every year. A single acre of grass yields three tons of clippings using up around 260 bags each year.”

A healthy lawn prevents moss, the bane of Northwest gardeners, but needs help balancing the acidity of ever-present Evergreens through applications of lime. These regional tips are why hiring a professional is key. Spring-Green offers service packages on a seasonal basis to keep your yard thriving and your sciatic nerve intact.

lawn clippings
Spring-Green offers packages of seasonally-specific lawn care so you can spend more time with the junior gardeners in your life. Photo courtesy: Spring-Green Lawn Care.

But don’t worry that mulching is messy. “While removing the clippings may give your lawn a more ‘manicured’ look, they do not stay around long enough to be a problem,” continues Bell. “Clippings are 80%-90% moisture, when they dry up, they disappear. Plus, think of the toil and trouble you avoid by not having to empty the mower bag or dispose of the clippings, that’s a ‘win-win’ in my book!”

To schedule an appointment, call Spring-Green at 360-438-2885 or 877-438-2885. You can also enter your address to find neighborhood discounts on their website.

The Thurston County Local Hazardous Waste Program encourages a philosophy of ‘Cut it high, let it lie.’ By partnering with Spring-Green’s knowledgeable staff, your backyard oasis can be truly magical.

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