Question
is it better to mulch or bag grass?

Answer
Hi Frank,

"To mulch or not to mulch...."

This is an old debate and everone has their own opinion.

Some people like using the mulching mowers. Those rated at a higher horse-power apparently do a good job of pulverizing the grass debris so that it falls to the top-soil and does not look too shabby on the lawn.

However, ...an eventual accumulation of the mulch material and 'thatch' should be avoided. This can tend to cause fungus disease problems with the turf-grass under certain conditions of moisture and lack of aeration.  Some lawn fungus diseases can be very invasive and can destroy vast areas of lawns.

I  recommend that you continue to collect the grass clippings for at least part of the mowing season AND use these to make COMPOST (aka "Gardener's Gold").  Few things you can add to your lawn and top soil will be as beneficial as humus rich compost made from the grass clippings and other herbaceous vegetation.

Adding humus and mineral rich compost to the lawn periodically does all the good things mulching can do with out having the potential to cause fungal lawn disease problems.

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I Hope this has answered your question(s)!

Visit my Lawn & Gardens webpage for more Lawn and Garden Tips, Facts and Links:
http://hometown.aol.com/eilatlog/lawnol.html

Your Questions and Comments are welcome at ALLEXPERTS.com

___ Jim Gibbs,
    Microbiologist/Botanist
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