Mulched grass will return nutrients to the lawn, but it needs to be broken down by bacteria and fungi before the nutrients can become available. That process takes a long time, so you shouldn't worry about the tiny amount of extra N from the clippings.

 

I'm not worried about the 4-2-1 from the clippings. I felt like he should have bagged his clippings because he's not adding anything to the lawn.

He tried to say the rain with clippings will add nutrients. Yes, rain water has nutrients but there are zero benefits from the clippings right now.

 

He's adding organic matter by mulching and that's a great benefit in the long run

 

Grass will only take up what it needs/can in relation to primary macronutrients and water/temperatures. If you have a lot of N, you also need more P and K. However, there is a limit to how quickly the grass can use its energy to grow - based on environmental conditions (sun, temps, water).

For soil health, returning clippings is a good idea so that they will be broken down and save on fertilizer. University studies report returning clippings can be responsible for 25% of N requirements per season!
Grass clippings and organic matter feed microbes slowly, especially when temps are from 60-90 degrees. This builds overall soil health over time, returns nutrients, and is healthier for the grass and soil. Soil microbes are important because for common N sourced (urea) fertilizer, microbes are responsible for the urease that breaks down the urea into usable Nitrogen for plants.

If clippings are too large or removed, you must fertilize more to offset the loss and maintain the same quality.

4-1-2 NPK is an ideal ratio for turfgrass. The 15-15-15 is not, and is usually, a waste or harmful to the environment.
The ratio does not determine the amount of NPK. What matters is the amount put down. If you put down 1 lb of 15-15-15, you have .15% of NPK. If you put down 4 lbs of 4-1-2, you have .16%/.04%/.08% of NPK.

Also, a 15-15-15 fertilizer does not indicate how much is fast-release or slow-release. If it is fast-release urea, there is a good chance much of it would be lost to volatilization or leaching, in which case the plants would not be able to absorb much of it anyway. There are some studies showing you have to use more urea because of the losses; it could be as bad as only 30% getting to the grass. Slow-release and organics would not have this issue and are generally better for your lawn. Many fertilizers include technologies to slow the release of their nutrients, which is why some fertilizers cost more than others.

 

You don't know what you're talking about. I fertilize my lawn every 4 weeks per the fertilizer I utilize. Those clippings aren't doing anything at all. Especially spreading 10 lbs on my 1K sq ft back lawn and 6 lbs on my 400 sq ft front lawn. I'm going to trust Stover Seeds on their recommendation.

Do you live in my state? Explain to me how you know MORE about my lawn and grass seeds than the company who cultivates it? The same company that's 7 hours from my house.

I live in a state with the most strict environmental requirements. If a multi million dollar company that grows and sells the seeds I use tells everyone in this state to use 15-15-15. Who ARE you to say otherwise?

 

I hired a new landscaper who graduated 2 years ago with his degree in horticulture.
- - -
I really enjoy my new landscaper because he's knowledgeable. The other guys are not on his level at all.
- - -
So my new landscaper mulched my lawn…

I disagree with him. Why? I just fertilized with 15-15-15 (NPK) granules 2 weeks ago. Then added Ironite last week. Grass clippings are probably at best a 4-2-1 (NPK).

Correct me if I'm wrong, but grass can't absorb an infinite amount of nutrients correct? Like the human body, it just won't absorb anymore than what is feasible per nature. I think my landscaper just didn't want to bag his clippings on Friday.

Your landscaper must know something about soil nutrient. Mulching clippings into the lawn will eventually return the nutrients into the soil. It’s not how much the lawn will use, but how of much of the nutrient will remain in the soil. Eventually, a mature lawn that is constantly mulch mowed will only need nitrogen. You need to understand the nutrient mobility in the soil. Fertilizing with a 1:1:1 ratio fertilizer like 15-15-15 can cause problems in the long term.

Fertilizing every four weeks is too much for a cool season lawn. Cool season lawns will only need about 4lbs of nitrogen annually. It’s called cool season since it grows best during the cooler parts of the year, spring and fall, when soil temperatures are between 50°-75°.

 

You don't know what you're talking about.

Do you live in my state? Explain to me how you know MORE about my lawn, seed cultivars, and soil than the company who cultivates it? The same multi million dollar company that's 7 hours from my house.

I live in a state with the most strict environmental requirements. If a multi million dollar company that grows and sells the seeds I use tells everyone in this state to use 15-15-15. Who ARE you to say otherwise?

 

You seem to be an odd fellow. Are you just here to complain about reddit and your landscaper and hope for confirmation from others about your complaints? It's like you joined the forum just to argue. I'm confused.

 

Are you here because your wife divorced you and your kids don't like you? 🤡

 

Did you get your statistics from this memo from Conn: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2012/rpt/201...2-r-0076.htm#:~:text=At least 11 states ban,Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.


At least 11 states ban phosphorus fertilizer use or sale: Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.Feb 1, 2012

Sorry but 12 years ago is not a good dataset.

 

Did you get your statistics from this memo from Conn: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2012/rpt/2012-r-0076.htm#:~:text=At least 11 states ban,Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.


At least 11 states ban phosphorus fertilizer use or sale: Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.Feb 1, 2012

Sorry but 12 years ago is not a good dataset.

It's still 11 states 🤡. We're not talking about phosphorus in laundry detergent.

How are you this dumb with Google?

 

There was never a question of what a person does ("I put down this and this company said do that"). The original question was about whether clippings mulched into the lawn were beneficial.
I believe others, and I have answered this. It sounds like the poster already has a set thought in his mind and wants validation of his thoughts. When others didn't agree, he became upset.

As for 4th Millenium SRP and Stover Seed—In their documentation, they recommend avoiding high concentrations of N and using a balanced fertilizer (1-1-1 ratio). That is their right. They also recommend fertilizing every 6-8 weeks rather than monthly (Maintenance Fertilization PDF). However, based on general turfgrass research over the decades, it could be called into question whether it is the most optimal recommendation. I've emailed TurfMerchants and Stover Seed for clarification.

I don't need to live in another state or country to know something. I can trust many others' validated tests and studies. A physics example: Gravity works for me here. I assume it works elsewhere on the planet. For proof, others have tested it and verified that gravity works the same. Interesting fact: Testing led us to find gravity works differently the closer to the equator due to the planet's shape and centrifugal force. While I haven't personally tested this, many scientists have spent the time and $ to investigate, prove, and document it in a reproducible/verifiable way.

 

This thread went nowhere, real fast! sheesh.

 

But what a fun ride! 😂

 

Why did we not have these issues with members on the old site? It’s odd. Now it seems like every day there’s a new member that’s a robot or come here just to be upset. Honestly not sure if they are bots too. With the old site you seldom saw this.