Help!!! Newbie needs help with mowing lawn/weeds!!!

jazzy · Joined: 04 Mar 2007 Posts: 6 Location: Southlake,TEXAS

I thought I read somewhere in this forum that you should use a bagged mower when you have flowering weeds as not to spread the weeds. This would make sense but I wanted to ask to see if this information was accurate.

Tony M · Joined: 31 Mar 2003 Posts: 1086 Location: McKinney,TEXAS

The benefit you get from recycling and mulching your own grass and leaving it in place far out weighs the possible negatives.
Building a thick lawn prevents weeds in the long run and mulching is a great way to "fertilize" every time you mow.
Tony M

jazzy · Joined: 04 Mar 2007 Posts: 6 Location: Southlake,TEXAS

I read your answer but it didn't answer my question so I'll try again. We you have a heavy flowering weede yard do the weeds spread if you mow without a bagged mower????

e Craig · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:11 pm Post subject:

I, too, am a newbie here, but not to organics. Simple questions do not usually have a simple answer

To me, Tony answered your question tho some other detail[s] might help you understand.

"Weed" seeds stay in place until the conditions are right for germination. Different seeds need different conditions. They may stay viable for 30 to 40 years! The flowers/seed that you mow add little to this inventory. Simple cultivation, changes in moisture, fertilization, and anything else that you may, or may not, think of will all encourage some new weeds. Reread Tony's reply and some of the other "Weeds" topics for more insights.

Does this help?
Take care.
Craig

khwoz · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 778 Location: Weatherford,TX

I'll give you my opinion. The bagged mower will probably capture a lot of the seed but any mower (bagged or not) will also distribute seed all over it's path. The key is in the previous messages; keep the yard healthy & the weeds (most of them) will not come back. Also, a healthy lawn will choke out the weeds that try to grow. You will notice this later in the growing season when the grass is growing rapidly.

jazzy · Joined: 04 Mar 2007 Posts: 6 Location: Southlake,TEXAS

Thank you KHOZ for your answer. Simple and to the point. That's all I needed.

sandih · Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Posts: 1056 Location: Dallas,TEXAS

Just because someone's answer isn't worded the way you want does not make it less of an answer. There are 2 sides to this coin and Tony was trying to explain the negatives and positives of the situation as it is NOT black and white which is how you seem to want it. You will find in organics, that it is not always black and white.

RHE · Joined: 14 Aug 2005 Posts: 16 Location: Houston,TEXAS

Jazzy,
The correct answer to you inquiry is: NO
As I have learned over many years of answering questions that way, most (and I mean most) people don't like that type of answer at all. I have received more than my share of "you smart a.." and a few have taken it futher than that.
But I am good at answering the question ask. So any thing else you want to know about gardening just ask me.