When you mow your lawn you can leave the clippings on the grass. Called "Grasscycling", these clippings contain nutrients and bulk (mulch) which will help keep your lawn healthy. Grass clippings consist of  about 4 percent nitrogen, 2 percent potassium and 1 percent phosphorus, which is the same as a bag of fertilizer that read  'Fertilizer 4:2:1'.

For best results:

1. Sharpen lawn mower blades regularly
2. Cut the grass when it is dry to prevent clumping of the clippings
3. Cut less than a third of the blade height at a time

Even better, reduce the size of your lawn to only essential areas, and landscape the rest of your property in natural areas. To keep things looking "neat and tidy" you can buffer the natural areas from the lawn by cutting an intermediate strip of law at the highest mower setting your mower allows. The natural areas of your property create habitat for birds, butteflies and other wildlife. If you let your lawn grow too long before you cut, and have extra clippings, you can compost them. For best results, layer them with dry brown materials such as dry leaves.

Missouri publishes an online guide to ecological health care-including how to compost lawn clippings-at: http://muextension.missouri.edu/p/G6958

Here’s another wonderful guide on ecological lawn care from Virginia: http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430-402/430-402.html 

Some places that might take grass clipping:

• Bailey's Compost Snohomish 360-568-8826
• Lord Hill Farms Snohomish 360-568-1780
• Topsoils Inc Snohomish 425-485-0355
• Pacific Topsoils Inc Mill Creek 425-337-2700, 800-884-7645
• VERMICOMPOSTING http://www.wormwoman.com/acatalog/vermicomposting.html
• Moon Dog Creek Farm Monroe 360-794-9378 

Call Snohomish County Solid Waste for information on grasscycling, natural lawn care,vermicomposting and composting. 425-388-3425