Grass for Mulch

We have a few acres of fields that I mow in spring and early summer for garden mulch. After July they simply grow untended except for a few paths that help us avoid ticks, burrs and wet shoes. The first cutting in spring is substantial because it includes both early new growth and plants that died over winter.

Because dry plant matter is easy to handle, works better as mulch than wet grass that heats up and decays within a few hours, and can be used to cover sensitive plantings if frost threatens, I initially mow fields a few sunny days before picking it up. This year our first harvest of mulch delivered four trailers full plus over 100 bags (the bagging feature of the mower fills three at a time) all together totaling over 30 cubic yards of mulch. 

Diesel Tractor Connected to a Trailer That Catches Dry Grass Delivered by the Mower Via an Articulated Tube

Tractor with Bagging System

Filling the trailer behind the mower requires the grass to travel more than ten feet through a large articulated tube that only works well with dry matter easily transported by the blower. Wet material clogs the system. This combination of tractor/mower and trailer connected by a tube requires a large turning radius so it can only be used by proceeding clockwise around two large fields. Filling the trailer that fits about 40 bags of mulch is a huge time and fuel saver because it avoids so many back-and-forth trips to garden plots. For a few years I emptied the bags into the conveniently located trailer but then emptying the trailer required removing the bagging system. And it's a lot of work emptying bags every five minutes, the time it takes to fill them. The trailer sides and top are now lined with mesh that catches the mulch thrown by the hurricane of air that transports it from the mower. It now takes less than a day to pick up the four trailers and 100 bags of mulch that used to take many days.

View Showing Dry Grass Surrounded by Field Where Mulch Has Been Picked Up

Mulch Ready for Distributing Around Garden

Worth noting: last year's mulch has essentially disappeared by this time and gardens are bare soil except for corn stalks, tomato vines and pepper skeletons from the crops themselves. The nutrients in the mulch have been processed into the soil by worms, bacteria and fungi.

Hours driving around fields are not boring. There are dozens of birds to watch, baby rabbits, snakes and frogs to avoid, and other wonders to ponder. The fields have animal paths crossing them and often matted grass that show where deer bedded. Once in awhile I have to escort a newborn fawn from harms way for they refuse to move on their own. 

Belle, Our Dog, Sitting on a Deer Path Through Our Harvested Field. Their Hooves Trim the Dead Grass To Allow New Grass to Grow More Vigorously Than the Rest.