GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post - Mowing

David Rance[_3_] · 26-05-2018, 02:16 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening

On Fri, 25 May 2018 19:12:15 wrote:

On 25/05/2018 18:28, Martin Brown wrote:
On 25/05/2018 17:38, wrote:
On 25/05/2018 13:58, Martin Brown wrote:
On 25/05/2018 10:29, wrote:
We have three areas of lawn and generate a *lot* of grass
cuttings, disposing of them is always a problem so I'm wondering
whether to start mulching rather than collecting.

How much is a lot? I don't have a problem adding them to a hot heap

About 2 acres worth, needing mowing at least once per week.
OK. I'd have expected you to have more problem with it getting hot
enough to smoulder inside then if you build the heap right. I have had
mine turn to white ash inside more than once.

provided that I put a few shrubby prunings in at the same time.
Adding about 1m^3 at a time works for me and the heap goes hot
within 2-3 days.

I haven't thought about the volume, but 1m^3 is probably what we get
*from one full mow, before it settles.
I have had it smouldering before now but normally it tops out at
70C.
Is this mostly grass, with a waterproof cover?
When it goes hot it is almost all grass with whatever woody pruning
stuff I want to be rid of mixed in the middle somewhere. I don't cover
and accept that the top surface won't compost until it gets buried.
No covers although if I have some dead ferns or rhubarb leaves I toss
them on at the start of the season the help keep the heat in.
The trick is to not compact the grass and have enough air space
inside so that it can really get going. I originally seeded mine with
Garrotta compost accelerator but have never needed to since starting it.
It goes hot about 3 days after cutting and smells a bit peculiar of
short chain fatty acids so you want it well away from the house.
I give it a quick turn before adding the next lot a week later.
There is always room by then. Bays are about 2x3m with three of them
maturing.

Thanks, that's very interesting. We moved here about a year ago so
having this volume of grass clippings is a relatively new experience.
Currently the grass just goes into a huge heap and eventually to the
bonfire - wasteful and environmentally poor.

In France I have probably about the same amount of grass as you (around
a couple of acres of cider apple orchard. I am lucky in that I can take
my clippings down to the local council tip where I empty them into a
huge container.

Is there no council in the UK that will do the same thing?

David

--
David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK