VWB Blog Numerous studies have shown that seeing or being with greenery and other natural elements can reduce stress and improve overall health. As such, most homeowners now prefer having a garden at home with a nice lawn and different varieties of flowering plants.
That said, every homeowner with a garden knows how much waste it can generate–from grass clippings to leaves and other plant-generated debris. So, what do you do with these garden trimmings and waste? Don’t throw them away–put them to good use or dispose of them properly with the following methods.
Hire A Rubbish Removal Service
Hiring a rubbish removal service is most suited for larger gardens that generate a lot of waste. However, it can also be suitable if you’re having a cleanup drive in your garden and disposing of bulky waste such as old garden tools or large wood elements in addition to regular garden trimmings.
Companies like Dirt Cheap Rubbish Removal can help properly dispose of anything, including garden trimming and waste. You can check their website and read more about their services. Generally, though, these companies will take a look at the waste you need to dispose of and provide a price for their services. If you agree, they’ll go to work, load up garden trimming and other waste in your garden, and take them away.
Leave It Alone
Mowing is the key to a healthy and lush lawn. It helps keep your lawn looking perfect while blocking out weeds and making the grass more hard-wearing.
However, every homeowner knows regular mowing can leave ugly grass clippings on your lawn. While you may want to remove these clippings to give your lawn a neat look, leaving them where they lay actually benefits the grass.
Short clippings break down quickly, providing nutrients, organic matter, and moisture to the soil. It also helps improve aeration, regulate soil temperature, and create a habitat for beneficial insects and microbes to grow. So, instead of spending more time cleaning a freshly mowed lawn, you can just leave it alone and focus more on other garden maintenance tasks you have.
Create A Compost
If you have a garden, there’s a good chance you already have compost. If you don’t have one yet, you can start the process with the collected garden trimmings. Composting is one of the best ways to sustainably manage and recycle garden trimmings, providing numerous benefits to your garden.
Instead of relying on chemical fertilizers, you can use them as natural and eco-friendly fertilizers to grow your plants and flowers. Most organic garden waste, including grass clippings, dead leaves, and dried flowers, can create nutrient-rich soil for your plants. To make it even more effective, you can add food scraps from your kitchen, including coffee grounds and vegetable and fruit peeling.
Drop It At Municipal Collection Site
Some areas have collection sites for garden trimmings and waste. If your city or municipality has this waste collection service, you can store your garden trimmings and drop them off as often as needed so they won’t end up in the trash.
Your local waste management unit will recommend or provide compostable bags where you can place this organic waste until the collection schedule.
Brew A Garden Tea
One of the best ways to recycle garden trimmings is to make a fertilizer tea for your plants. Like compost, garden tea is a potent fertilizer that encourages healthy plant growth. What’s more, it’s easier to make and can be used in just a few weeks compared to compost.
You need to mix the grass clippings in a bucket of water and leave it for a few weeks. Make sure to cover the bucket to keep mosquitoes and other pests away. Generally, the warmer the weather, the faster the fermenting process is. Once the grass trimmings have broken down, strain the larger debris and use the tea fertilizer to water your plants.
Make A Mulch
Mulch is critical to container gardens, garden beds, and landscaping. And when you mow, you’re essentially getting piles of free mulch. Strategically placing your garden trimmings on the surface of your soil can help protect garden beds and plants from erosion while providing essential nutrients.
Mulching also allows the soil to retain its moisture, reducing watering requirements. Moreover, it helps reduce weed growth by covering the soil and preventing light from reaching the covered areas. Just be careful when adding mulch. Too much mulch can encourage excess moisture that can suffocate and kill plants or cause rotting.
Takeaway
A garden offers numerous health and environmental benefits. That said, it’s also one of the most significant contributors to waste on your property. However, garden waste disposal doesn’t have to be stressful. By using any of the above methods, you can put garden trimmings to good use or dispose of them properly. Ultimately, these strategies can help maintain your garden while reducing your carbon footprint.