Perhaps a silly question, however!

I have limited composting space (2 Daleks) and these days the majority
of my waste is grass cuttings, which rapidy fill the pot and take a long
time to compost.

I am considering dedicating one dalek to grass and the other to mix (may
be including some grass). Is there any way of increasing the speed og
composting the grass? In the past when I had more space and less grass,
I used to add newspaper sheets between the layers of grass, but not sure
if this would work in a dalek on grass only (and I dont buy newspapers
these days).

I could take the grass to the council tip where they have garden waste
bins, but would rather keep and use it myself.

Any thought/ideas please?

On 04/08/2023 21:36, Polly@golly wrote:
> Perhaps a silly question, however!
>
> I have limited composting space (2 Daleks) and these days the majority
> of my waste is grass cuttings, which rapidy fill the pot and take a long
> time to compost.
>
> I am considering dedicating one dalek to grass and the other to mix (may
> be including some grass). Is there any way of increasing the speed og
> composting the grass? In the past when I had more space and less grass,
> I used to add newspaper sheets between the layers of grass, but not sure
> if this would work in a dalek on grass only (and I dont buy newspapers
> these days).
>
> I could take the grass to the council tip where they have garden waste
> bins, but would rather keep and use it myself.
>
> Any thought/ideas please?

I don't think you can compost freshly cut grass because it is too moist.
The grass just turns to a wet sludge if you try. If the grass is too dry
it won't compost either as you'll just be making hay! You could try
adding sheets of newspaper to freshly cut grass, but cardboard might
work better. Whether a dalek is big enough to compost grass with
paper/cardboard is another matter. Do any of your neighbours have green
waste they could give you to help bulk up the dalek with something a
little more solid?

--

Jeff

On 04/08/2023 22:14, Jeff Layman wrote:
> On 04/08/2023 21:36, Polly@golly wrote:
>> Perhaps a silly question, however!
>>
>> I have limited composting space (2 Daleks) and these days the majority
>> of my waste is grass cuttings, which rapidy fill the pot and take a long
>> time to compost.
>>
>> I am considering dedicating one dalek to grass and the other to mix (may
>> be including some grass). Is there any way of increasing the speed og
>> composting the grass? In the past when I had more space and less grass,
>> I used to add newspaper sheets between the layers of grass, but not sure
>> if this would work in a dalek on grass only (and I dont buy newspapers
>> these days).
>>
>> I could take the grass to the council tip where they have garden waste
>> bins, but would rather keep and use it myself.
>>
>> Any thought/ideas please?
>
> I don't think you can compost freshly cut grass because it is too moist.
> The grass just turns to a wet sludge if you try. If the grass is too dry
> it won't compost either as you'll just be making hay! You could try
> adding sheets of newspaper to freshly cut grass, but cardboard might
> work better. Whether a dalek is big enough to compost grass with
> paper/cardboard is another matter. Do any of your neighbours have green
> waste they could give you to help bulk up the dalek with something a
> little more solid?
I usd to get grass cuttings from a neighbour to *accelerate* composting,
tht in a dalek. *But* - I found that I had to dig down and fragment the
layers to allow air in,.

There is an additive which acts as an accelerator. You could try that,
but I never bothered.

--
Rusty Hinge
To err is human. To really foul things up requires a computer and the BOFH.

On 04/08/2023 22:14, Jeff Layman wrote:
> On 04/08/2023 21:36, Polly@golly wrote:
>> Perhaps a silly question, however!
>>
>> I have limited composting space (2 Daleks) and these days the majority
>> of my waste is grass cuttings, which rapidy fill the pot and take a long
>> time to compost.
>>
>> I am considering dedicating one dalek to grass and the other to mix (may
>> be including some grass). Is there any way of increasing the speed og
>> composting the grass? In the past when I had more space and less grass,
>> I used to add newspaper sheets between the layers of grass, but not sure
>> if this would work in a dalek on grass only (and I dont buy newspapers
>> these days).
>>
>> I could take the grass to the council tip where they have garden waste
>> bins, but would rather keep and use it myself.
>>
>> Any thought/ideas please?
>
> I don't think you can compost freshly cut grass because it is too moist.
> The grass just turns to a wet sludge if you try. If the grass is too dry
> it won't compost either as you'll just be making hay!

For years I just piled up grass cuttings in a corner of the garden.
Until the mower with the grass collector on was stolen.
I did nothing special. The 3 ft tall piles became 3" tall layer of what
appeared to be rich black soil.

EVERYTHING rots, in time. Nature doesn't need human interference to make
it happen, just the time and the space to let the appropriate bugs do
their life thing, and reduce it to whatever they crap out.
The main problem is stuffing it in 'daleks' where the worms cant eat it
and the bugs cant get to it.

I now leave my grass cuttings where they fall. In a few weeks they have
vanished. Something eats them.

You could try
> adding sheets of newspaper to freshly cut grass, but cardboard might
> work better. Whether a dalek is big enough to compost grass with
> paper/cardboard is another matter. Do any of your neighbours have green
> waste they could give you to help bulk up the dalek with something a
> little more solid?
>

--
A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on
its shoes.

On 05/08/2023 08:45, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> On 04/08/2023 22:14, Jeff Layman wrote:
>> On 04/08/2023 21:36, Polly@golly wrote:
>>> Perhaps a silly question, however!
>>>
>>> I have limited composting space (2 Daleks) and these days the majority
>>> of my waste is grass cuttings, which rapidy fill the pot and take a long
>>> time to compost.
>>>
>>> I am considering dedicating one dalek to grass and the other to mix (may
>>> be including some grass). Is there any way of increasing the speed og
>>> composting the grass? In the past when I had more space and less grass,
>>> I used to add newspaper sheets between the layers of grass, but not sure
>>> if this would work in a dalek on grass only (and I dont buy newspapers
>>> these days).
>>>
>>> I could take the grass to the council tip where they have garden waste
>>> bins, but would rather keep and use it myself.
>>>
>>> Any thought/ideas please?
>>
>> I don't think you can compost freshly cut grass because it is too moist.
>> The grass just turns to a wet sludge if you try. If the grass is too dry
>> it won't compost either as you'll just be making hay!
>
> For years I just piled up grass cuttings in a corner of the garden.
> Until the mower with the grass collector on was stolen.
> I did nothing special. The 3 ft tall piles became 3" tall layer of what
> appeared to be rich black soil.

I'm not surprised. The mown grass, with a bit of other green stuff,
composts nicely in my 4ft square open-topped wooden bins. But the OP was
talking about using a dalek.

> EVERYTHING rots, in time. Nature doesn't need human interference to make
> it happen, just the time and the space to let the appropriate bugs do
> their life thing, and reduce it to whatever they crap out.
> The main problem is stuffing it in 'daleks' where the worms cant eat it
> and the bugs cant get to it

If just stood on paving or bricks, then no, worms, etc, can't get into
it. But even if stood on soil, the main problem with daleks is that they
allow very little fresh air in, with the result that the grass turns
into anaerobic sludge if the cover is left on and the door remains closed.

--

Jeff

On 05/08/2023 09:43, Jeff Layman wrote:
> On 05/08/2023 08:45, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>> On 04/08/2023 22:14, Jeff Layman wrote:
>>> On 04/08/2023 21:36, Polly@golly wrote:
>>>> Perhaps a silly question, however!
>>>>
>>>> I have limited composting space (2 Daleks) and these days the majority
>>>> of my waste is grass cuttings, which rapidy fill the pot and take a
>>>> long
>>>> time to compost.
>>>>
>>>> I am considering dedicating one dalek to grass and the other to mix
>>>> (may
>>>> be including some grass). Is there any way of increasing the speed og
>>>> composting the grass? In the past when I had more space and less grass,
>>>> I used to add newspaper sheets between the layers of grass, but not
>>>> sure
>>>> if this would work in a dalek on grass only (and I dont buy newspapers
>>>> these days).
>>>>
>>>> I could take the grass to the council tip where they have garden waste
>>>> bins, but would rather keep and use it myself.
>>>>
>>>> Any thought/ideas please?
>>>
>>> I don't think you can compost freshly cut grass because it is too moist.
>>> The grass just turns to a wet sludge if you try. If the grass is too dry
>>> it won't compost either as you'll just be making hay!
>>
>> For years I just piled up grass cuttings in a corner of the garden.
>> Until the mower with the grass collector on was stolen.
>> I did nothing special. The 3 ft tall piles became  3" tall layer of what
>> appeared to be rich black soil.
>
> I'm not surprised. The mown grass, with a bit of other green stuff,
> composts nicely in my 4ft square open-topped wooden bins. But the OP was
> talking about using a dalek.
>
>> EVERYTHING rots, in time. Nature doesn't need human interference to make
>> it happen, just the time and the space to let the appropriate  bugs do
>> their life thing, and reduce it to whatever they crap out.
>> The main problem is stuffing it in 'daleks' where the worms cant eat it
>> and the bugs cant get to it
>
> If just stood on paving or bricks, then no, worms, etc, can't get into
> it. But even if stood on soil, the main problem with daleks is that they
> allow very little fresh air in, with the result that the grass turns
> into anaerobic sludge if the cover is left on and the door remains closed.
>
My grass did that at the bottom of the pile, too. I ignored it. Nature
still took its course.

My point is that probably just digging grass into your flower or
vegetable beds would serve as well as sticking it into a dalek.

My current compost heap is the dry ditch I am trying to fill in. It is
absorbing huge quantities of wood chips, dead weeds and the like. In
another 10 years if I am still alive I might make it a flower bed

--
“A leader is best When people barely know he exists. Of a good leader,
who talks little,When his work is done, his aim fulfilled,They will say,
“We did this ourselves.”

― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

On 05/08/2023 08:45, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

> For years I just piled up grass cuttings in a corner of the garden.
> Until the mower with the grass collector on was stolen.
> I did nothing special. The 3 ft tall piles became  3" tall layer of what
> appeared to be rich black soil.
>
> EVERYTHING rots, in time. Nature doesn't need human interference to make
> it happen, just the time and the space to let the appropriate  bugs do
> their life thing, and reduce it to whatever they crap out.
> The main problem is stuffing it in 'daleks' where the worms cant eat it
> and the bugs cant get to it.

I just put a lot of fresh damp cuttings in a dalek but I add torn up
cardboard both food type boxes and congregated card boxes. Possibly in
the ratio 10:1 fresh grass to cardboard. Within a week it reduces to
1/3 to 1/4 of the original bulk. The daleks are in full sun for most of
the day (assuming that we may see the sun again the is summer).

The idea is to try and leave some air space between the mass of grass
cuttings and not to leave it dry.

Be careful with "shiny" cardboard boxes as they may be plastic coated
and although easily torn you will end up with this bits of thin plastic
sheet in the compost. Companies into greenwashing are getting rid of
the plastic bags inside of boxes and hiding the plastic as a layer in
the box.

>
> I now leave my grass cuttings where they fall. In a few weeks they have
> vanished. Something eats them.

I find that if I do that and the grass is wet it sticks to the bottom of
my shoes and ends up in the house.

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

In article <uajnha$1dhda$1@dont-email.me>,
pwllgloyw@gmail.com says...
>
> Perhaps a silly question, however!
>
> I have limited composting space (2 Daleks) and these days the majority
> of my waste is grass cuttings, which rapidy fill the pot and take a long
> time to compost.
>
> I am considering dedicating one dalek to grass and the other to mix (may
> be including some grass). Is there any way of increasing the speed og
> composting the grass? In the past when I had more space and less grass,
> I used to add newspaper sheets between the layers of grass, but not sure
> if this would work in a dalek on grass only (and I dont buy newspapers
> these days).

Use cardboard (torn up egg boxes, packing boxes, insides
of toilet and kitchen paper rolls.
>
> I could take the grass to the council tip where they have garden waste
> bins, but would rather keep and use it myself.
>
> Any thought/ideas please?

I compost grasscuttings in daleks all the time, but it
needs to be in 3" layers separated by layers of other
material. Kitchen waste, or seaweed, other weeds,
cardboard, comfrey, grazing animal manure, sheeps wool,
dirty straw, chicken manure. If your home/garden doesnt
produce enough material, collect it from donors. The more
layers the better. Add some urine as activator.

Janet

On 04/08/2023 21:36, Polly@golly wrote:
> Perhaps a silly question, however!
>
> I have limited composting space (2 Daleks) and these days the majority
> of my waste is grass cuttings, which rapidy fill the pot and take a long
> time to compost.
>
> I am considering dedicating one dalek to grass and the other to mix (may
> be including some grass). Is there any way of increasing the speed og
> composting the grass? In the past when I had more space and less grass,
> I used to add newspaper sheets between the layers of grass, but not sure
> if this would work in a dalek on grass only (and I dont buy newspapers
> these days).
>
> I could take the grass to the council tip where they have garden waste
> bins, but would rather keep and use it myself.
>
> Any thought/ideas please?

Why not just chuck it straight on the garden beds, thats what we have
been doing here for the last 40 years saves a lot of carting about !
--
Charlie Pridham
Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk

On Mon, 7 Aug 2023 11:26:16 +0100, Charlie Pridham
<charlie@roselandhouse.co.uk> wrote:

>On 04/08/2023 21:36, Polly@golly wrote:
>> Perhaps a silly question, however!
>>
>> I have limited composting space (2 Daleks) and these days the majority
>> of my waste is grass cuttings, which rapidy fill the pot and take a long
>> time to compost.
>>
>> I am considering dedicating one dalek to grass and the other to mix (may
>> be including some grass). Is there any way of increasing the speed og
>> composting the grass? In the past when I had more space and less grass,
>> I used to add newspaper sheets between the layers of grass, but not sure
>> if this would work in a dalek on grass only (and I dont buy newspapers
>> these days).
>>
>> I could take the grass to the council tip where they have garden waste
>> bins, but would rather keep and use it myself.
>>
>> Any thought/ideas please?
>
>Why not just chuck it straight on the garden beds, thats what we have
>been doing here for the last 40 years saves a lot of carting about !

+1

--
Chris

Gardening in West Cornwall, very mild, sheltered
from the West, but open to the North and East.

On 07/08/2023 11:54, Chris Hogg wrote:
> On Mon, 7 Aug 2023 11:26:16 +0100, Charlie Pridham
> <charlie@roselandhouse.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> On 04/08/2023 21:36, Polly@golly wrote:
>>> Perhaps a silly question, however!
>>>
>>> I have limited composting space (2 Daleks) and these days the majority
>>> of my waste is grass cuttings, which rapidy fill the pot and take a long
>>> time to compost.
>>>
>>> I am considering dedicating one dalek to grass and the other to mix (may
>>> be including some grass). Is there any way of increasing the speed og
>>> composting the grass? In the past when I had more space and less grass,
>>> I used to add newspaper sheets between the layers of grass, but not sure
>>> if this would work in a dalek on grass only (and I dont buy newspapers
>>> these days).
>>>
>>> I could take the grass to the council tip where they have garden waste
>>> bins, but would rather keep and use it myself.
>>>
>>> Any thought/ideas please?
>>
>> Why not just chuck it straight on the garden beds, thats what we have
>> been doing here for the last 40 years saves a lot of carting about !
>
> +1
>
+2

--
The theory of Communism may be summed up in one sentence: Abolish all
private property.

Karl Marx

On 07/08/2023 11:26, Charlie Pridham wrote:
> On 04/08/2023 21:36, Polly@golly wrote:
>> Perhaps a silly question, however!
>>
>> I have limited composting space (2 Daleks) and these days the majority
>> of my waste is grass cuttings, which rapidy fill the pot and take a
>> long time to compost.
>>
>> I am considering dedicating one dalek to grass and the other to mix
>> (may be including some grass). Is there any way of increasing the
>> speed og composting the grass? In the past when I had more space and
>> less grass, I used to add newspaper sheets between the layers of
>> grass, but not sure if this would work in a dalek on grass only (and I
>> dont buy newspapers these days).
>>
>> I could take the grass to the council tip where they have garden waste
>> bins, but would rather keep and use it myself.
>>
>> Any thought/ideas please?
>
> Why not just chuck it straight on the garden beds, thats what we have
> been doing here for the last 40 years saves a lot of carting about !

That implies you have a large bed area and a smaller lawn area. My
garden, these days, is the other way around, small beds and large(ish)
lawns. At my age, it is easier to walk with a lawn mower than bend to
dig or plant things!

Thanks for all the comments/help, I must admit I had forgotten all about
using cardboard.

On Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at 9:48:26 PM UTC+1, Polly@golly wrote:
> On 07/08/2023 11:26, Charlie Pridham wrote:
> > On 04/08/2023 21:36, Polly@golly wrote:
> >> Perhaps a silly question, however!
> >>
> >> I have limited composting space (2 Daleks) and these days the majority
> >> of my waste is grass cuttings, which rapidy fill the pot and take a
> >> long time to compost.
> >>
> >> I am considering dedicating one dalek to grass and the other to mix
> >> (may be including some grass). Is there any way of increasing the
> >> speed og composting the grass? In the past when I had more space and
> >> less grass, I used to add newspaper sheets between the layers of
> >> grass, but not sure if this would work in a dalek on grass only (and I
> >> dont buy newspapers these days).
> >>
> >> I could take the grass to the council tip where they have garden waste
> >> bins, but would rather keep and use it myself.
> >>
> >> Any thought/ideas please?
> >
> > Why not just chuck it straight on the garden beds, thats what we have
> > been doing here for the last 40 years saves a lot of carting about !
> That implies you have a large bed area and a smaller lawn area. My
> garden, these days, is the other way around, small beds and large(ish)
> lawns. At my age, it is easier to walk with a lawn mower than bend to
> dig or plant things!
>
> Thanks for all the comments/help, I must admit I had forgotten all about
> using cardboard.

I struggled with lots of grass cuttins years ago, Tried everything including layers of grass, cardboard, garden soil, etc in the dedicated compost bin. For me, a waste of time. So I got a mulching mower which is fine as long as the grass isn't too long

On 09/08/2023 11:56, Paul Mc Cann wrote:
> On Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at 9:48:26 PM UTC+1, Polly@golly wrote:
>> On 07/08/2023 11:26, Charlie Pridham wrote:
>>> On 04/08/2023 21:36, Polly@golly wrote:
>>>> Perhaps a silly question, however!
>>>>
>>>> I have limited composting space (2 Daleks) and these days the majority
>>>> of my waste is grass cuttings, which rapidy fill the pot and take a
>>>> long time to compost.
>>>>
>>>> I am considering dedicating one dalek to grass and the other to mix
>>>> (may be including some grass). Is there any way of increasing the
>>>> speed og composting the grass? In the past when I had more space and
>>>> less grass, I used to add newspaper sheets between the layers of
>>>> grass, but not sure if this would work in a dalek on grass only (and I
>>>> dont buy newspapers these days).
>>>>
>>>> I could take the grass to the council tip where they have garden waste
>>>> bins, but would rather keep and use it myself.
>>>>
>>>> Any thought/ideas please?
>>>
>>> Why not just chuck it straight on the garden beds, thats what we have
>>> been doing here for the last 40 years saves a lot of carting about !
>> That implies you have a large bed area and a smaller lawn area. My
>> garden, these days, is the other way around, small beds and large(ish)
>> lawns. At my age, it is easier to walk with a lawn mower than bend to
>> dig or plant things!
>>
>> Thanks for all the comments/help, I must admit I had forgotten all about
>> using cardboard.et into the
>
>
> I struggled with lots of grass cuttins years ago, Tried everything including layers of grass, cardboard, garden soil, etc in the dedicated compost bin. For me, a waste of time. So I got a mulching mower which is fine as long as the grass isn't too long

Indeed it is: improves the upper soil-structure no end and saves the
faff of composting. Howsomedever, if you *do* composting, grass-cuttings
are a very useful as they get to work quickly. As a 'maincrop' though,
it needs other stuff to allow air to circulate/edge-through.

--
Rusty Hinge
To err is human. To really foul things up requires a computer and the BOFH.

On 09/08/2023 11:56, Paul Mc Cann wrote:
> On Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at 9:48:26 PM UTC+1, Polly@golly wrote:
>> On 07/08/2023 11:26, Charlie Pridham wrote:
>>> On 04/08/2023 21:36, Polly@golly wrote:
>>>> Perhaps a silly question, however!
>>>>
>>>> I have limited composting space (2 Daleks) and these days the majority
>>>> of my waste is grass cuttings, which rapidy fill the pot and take a
>>>> long time to compost.
>>>>
>>>> I am considering dedicating one dalek to grass and the other to mix
>>>> (may be including some grass). Is there any way of increasing the
>>>> speed og composting the grass? In the past when I had more space and
>>>> less grass, I used to add newspaper sheets between the layers of
>>>> grass, but not sure if this would work in a dalek on grass only (and I
>>>> dont buy newspapers these days).
>>>>
>>>> I could take the grass to the council tip where they have garden waste
>>>> bins, but would rather keep and use it myself.
>>>>
>>>> Any thought/ideas please?
>>>
>>> Why not just chuck it straight on the garden beds, thats what we have
>>> been doing here for the last 40 years saves a lot of carting about !
>> That implies you have a large bed area and a smaller lawn area. My
>> garden, these days, is the other way around, small beds and large(ish)
>> lawns. At my age, it is easier to walk with a lawn mower than bend to
>> dig or plant things!
>>
>> Thanks for all the comments/help, I must admit I had forgotten all about
>> using cardboard.
>
>
> I struggled with lots of grass cuttins years ago, Tried everything including layers of grass, cardboard, garden soil, etc in the dedicated compost bin. For me, a waste of time. So I got a mulching mower which is fine as long as the grass isn't too long
I've been wondering about getting a mulching deck for the mower for
ages, but they're surprisingly expensive so I then start wondering
whether to spend a bit more and get one of the robot mulching mowers
that trundles around 24/7. Then I remember that I like stripes on the
main lawn and wonder how reliable the robots are. Then something more
important crops-up and it all gets forgotten until next time I'm
worrying about where to pile the grass cuttings this year :-)

On 09/08/2023 13:45, nothanks@aolbin.com wrote:

/mow/

>> I struggled with lots of grass cuttins years ago, Tried everything
>> including layers of grass,  cardboard,  garden soil,  etc  in the
>> dedicated compost bin. For me, a waste of time. So  I got a mulching
>> mower which is fine as long as the grass isn't too long
> I've been wondering about getting a mulching deck for the mower for
> ages, but they're surprisingly expensive so I then start wondering
> whether to spend a bit more and get one of the robot mulching mowers
> that trundles around 24/7. Then I remember that I like stripes on the
> main lawn and wonder how reliable the robots are. Then something more
> important crops-up and it all gets forgotten until next time I'm
> worrying about where to pile the grass cuttings this year :-)

To get nice stripes you need a clinder mower, and to take it in opposite
directions each sweep.

And to be good at steering the thing.

--
Rusty Hinge
To err is human. To really foul things up requires a computer and the BOFH.

On 09/08/2023 17:21, RustyHinge wrote:
> On 09/08/2023 13:45, nothanks@aolbin.com wrote:
>
> /mow/
>
>>> I struggled with lots of grass cuttins years ago, Tried everything
>>> including layers of grass,  cardboard,  garden soil,  etc  in the
>>> dedicated compost bin. For me, a waste of time. So  I got a mulching
>>> mower which is fine as long as the grass isn't too long
>> I've been wondering about getting a mulching deck for the mower for
>> ages, but they're surprisingly expensive so I then start wondering
>> whether to spend a bit more and get one of the robot mulching mowers
>> that trundles around 24/7. Then I remember that I like stripes on the
>> main lawn and wonder how reliable the robots are. Then something more
>> important crops-up and it all gets forgotten until next time I'm
>> worrying about where to pile the grass cuttings this year :-)
>
> To get nice stripes you need a clinder mower, and to take it in opposite
> directions each sweep.
>
> And to be good at steering the thing.
>
The mower has a cutting deck underneath and a Powered Grass Collector at
the back which has rotating brushes (that pick-up the cut grass and
deposit it in the basket) and a roller to make the stripes. The problem
is running out of space to dump the cuttings, hence thinking of other
solutions. We've got 3 lawns so one answer is to stripe the main lawn
and mulch the others, hence thinking about robot mowers (and recoiling
at the cost).

On 09/08/2023 18:02, nothanks@aolbin.com wrote:
> On 09/08/2023 17:21, RustyHinge wrote:
>> On 09/08/2023 13:45, nothanks@aolbin.com wrote:
>>
>> /mow/
>>
>>>> I struggled with lots of grass cuttins years ago, Tried everything
>>>> including layers of grass,  cardboard,  garden soil,  etc  in the
>>>> dedicated compost bin. For me, a waste of time. So  I got a mulching
>>>> mower which is fine as long as the grass isn't too long
>>> I've been wondering about getting a mulching deck for the mower for
>>> ages, but they're surprisingly expensive so I then start wondering
>>> whether to spend a bit more and get one of the robot mulching mowers
>>> that trundles around 24/7. Then I remember that I like stripes on the
>>> main lawn and wonder how reliable the robots are. Then something more
>>> important crops-up and it all gets forgotten until next time I'm
>>> worrying about where to pile the grass cuttings this year :-)
>>
>> To get nice stripes you need a clinder mower, and to take it in
>> opposite directions each sweep.
>>
>> And to be good at steering the thing.
>>
> The mower has a cutting deck underneath and a Powered Grass Collector at
> the back which has rotating brushes (that pick-up the cut grass and
> deposit it in the basket) and a roller to make the stripes. The problem
> is running out of space to dump the cuttings, hence thinking of other
> solutions. We've got 3 lawns so one answer is to stripe the main lawn
> and mulch the others, hence thinking about robot mowers (and recoiling
> at the cost).

The brush should produce a siilar effect to the clindrical cut of a
traditional mower:a roller will help, just so long as ou alternate the
direction of the sweeps.

The striped effect is due to the direction of the ajority of blades of
grass after the cut and their surfaces' grain's effect on the light
reflected from them.

--
Rusty Hinge
To err is human. To really foul things up requires a computer and the BOFH.

On Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at 8:07:48 PM UTC+1, RustyHinge wrote:
> On 09/08/2023 18:02, noth...@aolbin.com wrote:
> > On 09/08/2023 17:21, RustyHinge wrote:
> >> On 09/08/2023 13:45, noth...@aolbin.com wrote:
> >>
> >> /mow/
> >>
> >>>> I struggled with lots of grass cuttins years ago, Tried everything
> >>>> including layers of grass, cardboard, garden soil, etc in the
> >>>> dedicated compost bin. For me, a waste of time. So I got a mulching
> >>>> mower which is fine as long as the grass isn't too long
> >>> I've been wondering about getting a mulching deck for the mower for
> >>> ages, but they're surprisingly expensive so I then start wondering
> >>> whether to spend a bit more and get one of the robot mulching mowers
> >>> that trundles around 24/7. Then I remember that I like stripes on the
> >>> main lawn and wonder how reliable the robots are. Then something more
> >>> important crops-up and it all gets forgotten until next time I'm
> >>> worrying about where to pile the grass cuttings this year :-)
> >>
> >> To get nice stripes you need a clinder mower, and to take it in
> >> opposite directions each sweep.
> >>
> >> And to be good at steering the thing.
> >>
> > The mower has a cutting deck underneath and a Powered Grass Collector at
> > the back which has rotating brushes (that pick-up the cut grass and
> > deposit it in the basket) and a roller to make the stripes. The problem
> > is running out of space to dump the cuttings, hence thinking of other
> > solutions. We've got 3 lawns so one answer is to stripe the main lawn
> > and mulch the others, hence thinking about robot mowers (and recoiling
> > at the cost).
> The brush should produce a siilar effect to the clindrical cut of a
> traditional mower:a roller will help, just so long as ou alternate the
> direction of the sweeps.
>
> The striped effect is due to the direction of the ajority of blades of
> grass after the cut and their surfaces' grain's effect on the light
> reflected from them.
> --
> Rusty Hinge
> To err is human. To really foul things up requires a computer and the BOFH.

When the grass gets very long the mulching deck can' cope so we use this to collect the cuttings

https://photos.app.goo.gl/FBp1T594KEew6Lqo6

On 09/08/2023 13:45, nothanks@aolbin.com wrote:
> I've been wondering about getting a mulching deck for the mower for
> ages, but they're surprisingly expensive so I then start wondering
> whether to spend a bit more and get one of the robot mulching mowers
> that trundles around 24/7. Then I remember that I like stripes on the
> main lawn and wonder how reliable the robots are. Then something more
> important crops-up and it all gets forgotten until next time I'm
> worrying about where to pile the grass cuttings this year 😄

Next door has a mulching robot.

We have a pond. I have visions of it making a mistake and diving in,
which would probably be terminal.

I find grass clippings compost OK if you keep turning them.

Andy