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Compost grass clippings or not

JamesiainBJamesiainB Posts: 4
in Problem solving
This concerns recently laid turf and whether the first few batches of grass clippings should be discarded or can be composted. I seem to recall that turf grass is high in nutrients when first laid which would explain why my turf is growing insanely quickly. 
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Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Grass cuttings can always be composted but they are wet and high in nitrogen so need to be layered with dryer, carbon rich material such as shredded paper, torn cardboard and, later in the season, dry stems from perennials.  This will keep the pile aerated and stop the grass becoming a horrid, smelly, anaerobic mess.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Yeah,what obelixx said
  • JamesiainBJamesiainB Posts: 4
    Thanks Obelixx I've added shredded paper and ripped up brown cardboard to try and balance out the nitrogen with carbon it was really the high nutrient content that triggered something at the back of my mind. Its my daughter's garden so I'm not on hand all the time to tend to it and it's already a bit whiffy. I'm hoping it will dry out a bit in the next week. 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Turn it and add more carbon.  It'll be wonderful stuff.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    Yes, even if you only have grass, turn it, mix it up and it will be fine.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I would put it in a compost bin with the other bits, as detailed above.
  • JamesiainBJamesiainB Posts: 4
    Thanks guys, thats what I'll be doing, although there's so much of it she would need a compost bin the size of a car so I'm bringing most of it home with me. I'll use it in my compost bins and also as a mulch around various parts of the garden. Its quite handy when used in that way.
  • WilderbeastWilderbeast Posts: 1,415
    Get in the compost, grass clippings are like a super food for compost. Pull the contents of the bin out spread the grass over then fork it back on the heap. I havent thrown any grass away in nearly four years and collect from our neighbours too. My bins are always hot hot hot 🔥🔥
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    My invaluable tool for aerating the compost.

  • JamesiainBJamesiainB Posts: 4
    Never seen one of those before Papi Jo. What's it called?
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