For a place called the Sunshine State, there’s no shortage of storms each year.

And that’s partly why experts have warned Florida homeowners to pay attention to their grass clippings.

In a post earlier this year, UF/IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping Educator Kaylynn Hyson discussed how mowing your lawn can have unintended consequences.

ALGAE GROWTH

Per Hyson, grass clippings can easily get washed into storm drains, canals, ponds and other waterways, contributing nutrients to local bodies of water.

However, these same grass clippings release nitrogen as they decompose, which encourages unwanted and harmful algae growth.

“As algae and cyanobacteria die and decompose, they also consume oxygen in the water, creating stressful conditions for fish and other aquatic life,” the post reads.

DON’T CUT TOO SHORT

As such, Hyson provides a few tips to homeowners when it comes to mowing their lawn:

• Leave grass clippings on the lawn: Grass clippings are mostly water and have valuable nutrients that can return to the soil as they break down. This practice is known as “grasscycling” and can reduce the need for more fertilizer to maintain your landscape.
• Keep the lawn trimmed: Remember to mow regularly, but avoid cutting more than one-third of the grass blade at a time.
• Stay away from the sidewalk: Keep clippings off sidewalks, driveways, streets, and other hard surfaces. Before and after mowing, use a rake or blower to return clippings to the lawn rather than blowing them into the street or storm drain.

“Small changes like these support Florida-Friendly Landscaping Principles by reducing stormwater pollution, conserving nutrients, and protecting Florida’s waterways!” the post concludes.

For more information on Florida-Friendly Landscaping Principles, click here.