grasscycling

(gras.SY.kling)

n.

The process of recycling grass by leaving clippings on the lawn after mowing.

— grasscycle (gras.SYE.kul), v. To recycle grass in such a manner.

Example Citation:

Finally, try "grasscycling." This is a labor-saving practice that also has big benefits for your landscape. As you mow, leave those clippings right on the lawn rather than collecting them in a catcher or bag. Frequent mowings produce shorter clippings that decompose quickly and act as a self-fertilizer. You'll need less of the commercial fertilizer you use now and reduce the amount of yard waste you set out for pickup. You'll also use less water because the self-mulch cuts back on the amount of moisture lost to evaporation.

— Holly Hayes, "Keeping a thirsty lawn happy with less water," San Jose Mercury News, September 21, 2001

Earliest Citation:

"Grasscycling" simply requires a person to mow a little more frequently, Boyd said. "Grass clippings are 90 percent water so in a few days they're gone," he explained. " If you mow frequently, the clippings are very small. I don't ever pick them up. It's too much work."

— "How to 'grasscycle'," Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, August 11, 1990

Notes:

This tough-to-pronounce word (it might be closer to gra.SYE.kling, but I'm betting the "s" sound slides smoothly from the first syllable to the second) is a portmanteau that brings together grass and recycling.

Related Words:

conspicuous conservation

eco-tech

ecycling

grass ceiling

newater

off the grid

precycling

upcycling

Category:

Environment