Lawn clippings can either be removed while mowing, dispersed out the side of the mower, or mulched back into the lawn with special mulching blades.
My preferred method is mulching. Contrary to popular belief, returning the clippings to the lawn does not promote thatch build up. The clippings are 90% water so there is very little organic matter left behind. Mulched clippings account for up to 1lb of nitrogen returned to the soil over the course of a season, reducing the amount of fertilizer needed. When you mulch, there's no need to handle bags of grass or be concerned with their disposal.
Mulching blades for rotary mowers have added cutting edges enabling them to cut the grass into finer pieces which disappear into the lawn. A regular mowing schedule is helpful to avoid clumping.
If you like to collect your clippings with a bagging attachment, start a compost pile. You can convert your clippings into valuable compost to use as topdressing on the lawn, garden, or any other plants.
If you disperse your clippings out the side of your mower, be sure to stay on top of potential clumping.This method is the most likely to need raking and bagging if the grass is too long or wet.
