The Disadvantages of Mulching Grass (7 Major Downsides)

You may have heard that mulching is one of the best ways to keep your lawn healthy. But are there any disadvantages to mulching grass? If you’re looking for the answer to this question, you’ve come to the right place!

Gardeners usually don’t talk about the disadvantages of mulching grass as much as they highlight its advantages. Mulching certainly helps to improve water retention, suppress weed growth, and maintain nutrient levels in your lawn. However, a good gardener must know both sides of the picture to avoid causing any potential harm to the grass.

Mulching can have several drawbacks if the conditions in your yard are not right. So in this article, we have put together a list of all the major disadvantages of mulching grass.

Let’s take a look!

First, What is Mulching? (The Basics)

Mulching refers to any synthetic or organic material you can lay on top of your soil bed to improve water retention and reduce the growth of weeds. Organic mulching works as a slow-acting fertilizer, breaking down slowly and delivering nutrients to the soil over a period of time. Some examples include fine grass clippings, pine needles, leaf clippings, straw, bark, leaves, and cocoa shells.

On the other hand, synthetic mulches are only suitable for preventing the growth of unwanted weeds because they completely suffocate the ground underneath. Some examples of synthetic mulches include wood mulch, stone and gravel chips, newspaper clippings, black plastic covering, and landscape fabric.

However, not all types of plants respond well to mulching. Additionally, over-mulching can interfere with the process of photosynthesis, potentially causing damage to your plants or lawn.

What Are The Major Disadvantages of Mulching Grass?

Generally, if you ask any gardener about mulching grass, they will most likely only have positive things to say about it. After all, it is a popular method of keeping the lawn looking fresh and healthy. However, mulching can have several disadvantages if the conditions of the yard are not right.

Here are some of the major disadvantages of mulching grass that you should know:

1. Mulching is Not Good for Damp Grass

The purpose of mulching is to coat your lawn with a thin layer of fine grass clippings. This allows the clippings to break down organically, passing nutrients back into the ground.

However, mowing when the grass is damp will cause the clippings to form clumps. And why is this bad for your lawn? Clumps of mulch will prevent sunlight from reaching different parts of your lawn, resulting in dead patches of grass.

Clumps can also stick to the underside of your lawn mower and form clogs on the blades, increasing maintenance requirements. Lastly, cleaning the underside of a lawn mower clogged with wet clippings can be an annoying task.

2. Mulching Mowers Require More Maintenance

Sharpening the blades once a year is sufficient for a regular lawn mower. However, mulching is a more energy-intensive process and produces finer grass clippings. So, you will have to sharpen the blades on your mulching mower more frequently, say 2-3 times a year or more, depending on how much you use your mower.

Mulching also requires specialized blades. Depending on the model, you may be able to replace the blades of a side discharge mower and add additional attachments to turn it into a mulching mower. But if your lawn mower lacks power or does not have customizable features, you will have to invest in a new mulching mower.

3. Mulching Can Be Messy

Typically, when you see pictures of a mulched lawn on the internet, it looks perfect. However, it rarely ends up being so picturesque. It can be rather messy, especially when mulching long or wet grass.

Also, unexpected weather conditions, such as strong winds, can blow the mulch onto the street or other parts of your yard. For the same reason, it is not advisable to mulch your lawn during the rainy season. Wet mulch after a rain shower will stick to the soles of your shoes and spread all over the place.

If you are comparing side discharge vs. mulching, you will find the latter can be messier.

4. It Increases Your Mowing Time

Mulching grass can be a slow and tedious process. It requires you to take off little by little on each pass. Depending on the height of your grass, you might need multiple rounds to bring it down to the desired length.

You will also spend more energy pushing a walk-behind mulching mower. This is because the deck on a mulching mower keeps the grass clippings contained underneath it while the blades re-cut them multiple times before propelling them downwards. As a result, this creates higher resistance between the deck and the lawn.

An alternative solution is to use a self-propelled or riding mower.

5. Mulching Can Spread Weeds

It is true that mulching can help prevent the growth of new weeds. However, it can become a headache if your lawn is already riddled with weeds, such as crabgrass, daisies, and dandelions. In this case, you will mulch the weeds along with the grass clippings and spread them throughout the yard. This would result in an increase of weed growth. Therefore, it is important to get rid of the weeds first before you start mulching your lawn.

6. It May Attract Pests

The last thing you want in your garden is a pest attack. Mulching, particularly under warm and humid conditions, can create a habitable environment for pests to thrive. Depending on the type of mulch, you may be inviting over slugs, snails, and termites. A pest infestation in your garden will also put your flower beds and surrounding plants at risk. Furthermore, it can also lead to fungal growth, which can be detrimental to your lawn.

7. You Cannot Use Chemical Fertilizers Before Mulching

This may be a lesser-known fact. However, grass that is already treated with fertilizers may not decompose very efficiently. It may also harm your lawn instead of providing a benefit. In comparison, grass grown organically works much better as mulch. So, before you start mulching, it is important to let your lawn rest and avoid using chemical fertilizers for some time.

A Quick Recap of the Disadvantages of Mulching Grass

• Mulching is not suitable for wet grass
• Mulching mowers need more maintenance
• It can create a mess around your property
• It increases the mowing time
• Mulching can spread the existing weeds in your garden
• It can attract pests and rodents
• You cannot use chemical fertilizers right before mulching

Frequently Asked Questions

Mulching or bagging – Which is better?

Mulching, if done right, is an effective way of providing organic nutrients to your lawn because the mulch works as a slow-acting fertilizer. But mulching can be a slow and tedious process unless you mow frequently. And if you are already using chemical fertilizer on your lawn, bagging is a better option because it prevents unwanted mess.

Does mulching increase weed growth?

No, mulching itself does not increase the growth of new weeds. In fact, it does the exact opposite and prevents new weeds from growing. However, if your lawn already has weed growth, mulching can spread the finer weed clippings all over the yard. In this case, you will see new weed growth in your garden.

Can mulching starve my lawn of sunlight and air?

Sometimes, damp mulch ends up forming clumps. Even dry mulch can form clumps if it rains right after mulching. These clumps can starve some patches of your lawn of sunlight and air. It can also cause dead patches of grass in your yard. Note that mulching a seed bed will also have the same effect, as the sunlight will not reach the soil and halt the germination process.

Will mulching create a water pool if it rains?

Yes, mulching can create a mess if it rains right afterward. As mulch tends to be light and fluffy, rainwater can turn your lawn into a mess as the wet mulch mixes with the pool of water. One solution to this problem is to avoid over-mulching. This way, the rainwater will drain away faster.

Final Thoughts

In summary, choosing whether or not to mulch your lawn will depend on several factors, such as the weather conditions, the type of grass, your gardening experience, and more.

While mulching can be beneficial for your lawn, you need to know about its potential disadvantages to avoid harming your yard. In the end, if the conditions in your yard are not right, then the disadvantages of mulching grass will far outweigh its potential advantages.

We hope you now understand all the major disadvantages of mulching grass and the precautions you need to take before mulching your lawn.