Push (reel) mower and grass clippings?

Question

I use self-propelled mower. It cuts the grass into tiny pieces that fall back to the yard and decompose quickly, letting the nutruition back to the yard and redcue the needs for fertilizer.

Push (reel) mower is environmental friendly becasue it doesn't produce air and noise pollution. However, it doesn't cut the grass to pieces like the gas lawn-mower. Will it cause thatch problem if the grass left in the lawn?

This question really originated from a dicussion in the environment forum where people are asking how "green" a reel mower is. I am not planning to replace mine.

Answer 1

Thatch isn't cause by clippings, it is formed by a layer of dead roots and stems in an unhealthy lawn. The real mower should do just fine, as long as you don't wait until the grass is 6 inches high to mow it. I used one on my old lawn for several years and never had issues. I'd still use one, but I'm not about to try to mow an acre of grass with a push mower.

Answer 2

The reel mower cuts the best and makes for a very nice looking lawn. Where it doesn't do well is if you have couch grass mixed in your lawn. This has the taller stalks that are very hard to cut with a reel mower as they bend over instead of being drawn into the cutting blade.

Answer 3

If the grass gets too tall, it may cause a thatch problem. Only option for a reel type mower is to cut the grass more often or before it gets too tall. Have you thought about electric mowers?

Answer 4

Yeap you will have to start raking the yard if you use a reel type mower! But look at the plus side good exercise doing both. Minus side interferes with watching NASCAR and football

Answer 5

Thatch is a problem if your soil isn't healthy.. normally the bacteria in the soil break down the clippings and turn them back into earth.

The bacteria need nitrogen to break down the clippings. be sure that you use a higher nitrogen fertilizer in the spring and fall (for example 25-5-5).

If you are cutting regularly, watering periodically and fertilizing in the spring, you should be fine.