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I'm getting a ton of grass clippings from my lawn, has anyone bothered to compress them into logs and use them in a firepit? What are some issues with burning grass in a big outdoor firepit instead of using wood logs?

I'm getting a ton of grass clippings from my lawn, has anyone bothered to compress them into logs and use them in a firepit? What are some issues with burning grass in a big outdoor firepit instead of using wood logs?

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[–] [deleted] • 3 pts

No option at all on your mower to install mulching blades and a chute block off?

[–] [deleted] • 1 pt

There is, but this crap is growing fast. Maybe I just need to mow more often, higher setting and mulch, but I'm thinking about saving money on logs but also it seems like such a waste to toss all that grass away

[–] [deleted] • 4 pts

Tossing is much of a waste as being a grass farmer for no reason or profit.

https://www.homebiogas.com/

Maybe looking into and playing around with bio digestion may be fun. Takes time and resources but could be a fun project.

[–] [deleted] • 2 pts

Never heard of this before.

Thanks for sharing.

[–] • 3 pts

You'd have to dry it completely -- which is surprisingly hard to do so it probably wouldn't happen -- to get it to burn properly. If it's even a little green/damp it would burn poorly, if at all, and smoke like crazy.

Assuming you don't let the grass get too long you can leave clippings on the lawn to provide a layer to trap moisture and eventually break down. But the key here is you can't let it get too long so that means mowing more often. I've had composting mowers and they tended to get bogged down in even moderately length grass. So I now just run my regular mower without a bag. There's a couple shaded spots that always grow really fast so either I put the bag on there or rake afterwards.

[–] • 1 pt

Might be better as compost than fuel.

[–] • 0 pt

Best use for compost just have to get the balance of wet and dry (green or brown) content so it just just become mush.

[–] • 1 pt

I would say green grass would burn like shit, so would need to be dried. Would burn quickly so couldn't use it for warmth, and it might smell like shit. However if you just burning it to get rid of it, it should work.

[–] [deleted] • 2 pts

Yeah it's kinda both, to get rid of it but also in lieu of wood or maybe a supplement to the wood. I literally fill the trashcan with only the front or the back mow, I have to do them on separate weeks and also I then lose my trash can for actual trash...

[–] • 0 pt

Your biggest problem will be moisture. That's why firewood needs to be seasoned for 12-24 months before you burn it. Moist grass will burn shitty, make tons of smoke, and potentially pop hot embers out of the pit and start a grass fire.

Your best uses for grass clippings will be composting, or using as mulch. Throwing green grass in your beds has the danger of setting grass as a weed in (even then, my wife still does it, and she's a better gardener than me) but it will work best if you can dry it to a straw yellow first.

I've had good results composting/aging grass with this bin: https://www.gardeners.com/buy/three-bin-wire-composter/40-280.html

No reason you can't build one as well, if you are willing to put in the time.

[–] • 0 pt

build a simple smoker. Moist fuel becomes an asset.

[–] • 0 pt

…As long as he doesn’t spray his yard with toxic chemicals

[–] • 0 pt

oh. Bummer. Not a thing where I live.

[–] • 1 pt

I don’t spray either. That’s one of the reasons I don’t want to live under a HOA. Too many dumb rules that take away functionality.

[–] • 0 pt

I have a massive yard too if it isn't full of weed seeds I either compost or mulch my garden with it. I don't imagine compressing into logs would be worth it personally.

[–] • 0 pt

Use it as mulch. It dries brown and keeps down the weeds. I don't put chemicals on mine and I use it in the vegetable gardens.