As a landscape manager, you know how important it is to keep lawns and green spaces in good condition. Mulching and autonomous lawn mowing are two techniques that can help with this. In this article we will explain what mulching and autonomous lawn mowing entail and why these techniques can be useful for green managers.
What is Mulching?
Mulching is a technique where the grass cut during mowing is returned to the lawn or green space. This can be done by means of a special mulching mower that chops the grass and distributes it evenly over the lawn. The fine grass then serves as a natural fertilizer and ensures that the grass remains healthy. Grass mulching has the added benefit of less work and less waste than traditional mowing and clearing.
What is autonomous lawn mowing?
We at Vector Machines are of course totally in favor of autonomous lawn mowing. But for people who come to our page for the first time and are not entirely sure whether they have understood autonomous lawn mowing, here is a brief explanation. Autonomous lawn mowing is a technique in which an implement carrier or robot mower mows the lawn or green space without a person present to operate the device. The robotic lawnmower is set to a certain schedule and starts working automatically at the specified times. The robotic lawnmower can be programmed to mow at certain times or based on the growth rate of the grass. Autonomous lawn mowing saves time and labor costs, while still ensuring a perfectly maintained lawn.
Mulching in robotic lawnmowers
A lush green lawn is a beautiful sight, but it does require some effort to keep it healthy and beautiful. In addition to regularly mowing and watering the grass, it is also important to think about what happens to the grass you mow. Collecting and disposing of grass clippings can be time-consuming and environmentally damaging. Fortunately, there is an alternative: mulching. With grass mulching, the grass clippings are shredded and returned to the lawn, where it can serve as a natural fertilizer and retain moisture.
The benefits of mulching and autonomous lawn mowing for green managers
Combining mulching and autonomous lawn mowing can bring many benefits to green managers. First of all, mulching keeps the grass healthy and reduces the need for fertilizer. In addition, mulching the grass saves time and labor costs because there is no need to clean up grass clippings.
By combining mulching and autonomous lawn mowing, the work becomes even more efficient. Because the robotic lawnmower works automatically, mowing can be done at any time of the day or night. This means that mowing the grass is no longer dependent on the availability of personnel and fewer man-hours are required. In addition, autonomous lawn mowing ensures a more even mowing because the robotic lawnmower always mows at the same height and does not miss any spots.
What is mulching in autonomous lawn mowing?
Mulching in autonomous lawn mowing refers to the process of mowing and shredding grass and leaving the finely chopped grass clippings on the lawn instead of collecting or disposing of them. This is also referred to as “mowing without collecting”.
In autonomous lawn mowing, mulching is usually applied by the robotic lawnmower, which is able to cut the grass to the correct height and then shred it. The finely chopped grass clippings are then spread evenly over the lawn, where they gradually break down and serve as a natural fertilizer for the lawn.
Mulching or mulching has several benefits, including reducing the need for fertilizer and water, improving soil quality and reducing the amount of grass clippings that must be sent to landfill. It is also better for the environment because less waste is produced and fewer chemicals are needed.
How can the mower mulch the grass?
A mower can mulch grass by using a special blade configuration that not only cuts the grass, but also chops it into small pieces. These blades usually have extra cutting edges that cut the grass several times before depositing it on the lawn. This ensures that the grass is fine enough to break down quickly and serve as a natural fertilizer for the lawn.
With mulching mowers, the finely chopped grass clippings are then spread evenly over the lawn. Some mulching mowers even have a special discharge opening that evenly distributes the grass clippings over the lawn. This prevents large piles of grass clippings from forming, which can smother the lawn.
It is important to select the correct blade configuration and cutting height for mulching grass. When mulching, the grass should be cut short enough so that it does not regrow too quickly, but it should also not be cut too short so that it still has enough leaf area to continue growing and keep the lawn healthy. In addition, the mower must be powerful enough to effectively mulch the grass, but also quiet enough not to disturb residential areas.
Mulching on solar farms
Mulching can also be used autonomous lawn mowing on solar parks, where it helps control weed growth and improve soil quality. By using mulch on solar farms, solar farm owners can reduce the need for herbicides and pesticides and prevent the growth of weeds under the solar panels.
In addition, mulching can improve soil quality by breaking down the organic material contained in the mulch and mixing it with the soil. This helps improve soil structure, retain moisture and increase nutrient levels in the soil. This can lead to healthier and more resilient plants, which can increase the yield of the solar park.
Advantages of mulching grass on football fields
Football fields have a hard time with intensive use and regular maintenance is necessary to maintain the quality of the field. One of the most effective ways to improve the health and appearance of a soccer field is through grass mulching.
Mulching grass on a football field with an Echo mowing robot, means that the grass that has been cut and chopped into small pieces is left on the lawn instead of being cleaned up. The finely chopped grass spreads evenly over the surface and can easily settle into the soil. This technique offers several advantages for soccer fields, including:
- Improved soil quality
Mulching grass returns nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus to the soil. This contributes to the build-up of organic matter and improves soil quality, which is essential for the growth and health of the grass.
- Reduction of waste and costs
Mulching the grass eliminates the need for clean-up and disposal, resulting in less waste and reduced waste disposal costs. In addition, less fertilizer needs to be used, which can also save costs in the long term.
- Improved water absorption
Mulching helps improve water absorption and moisture retention in the soil. This is especially important during drier periods when the grass needs extra moisture to keep growing and staying healthy.
- Reinforced root growth
Mulching grass cuts the grass shorter, which can lead to enhanced root growth. The roots grow deeper into the soil and search for nutrients, making the grass stronger and more resistant to drought and damage.
- Better grass quality
As a result of the above advantages, the grass on the field will generally be healthier and stronger. This leads to a better quality of the grass and a more attractive appearance of the football field. Especially with the Echo mower, because it is short and mows tight straight lanes on the football field.
In conclusion, mulching grass is an effective way to improve the health and appearance of soccer fields. Mulching grass returns nutrients to the soil, which helps build organic matter and improve soil quality. This leads to a stronger, healthier and more attractive lawn, with less cost and waste.