What should be avoided to prevent runoff from clippings?

Discharging clippings onto impervious surfaces is a practice that should be avoided to prevent runoff. When grass clippings are blown or dumped onto hard surfaces like driveways or sidewalks, they can easily be washed away by rain or irrigation. This results in nutrient-rich clippings entering storm drains, which can lead to water pollution and excess nutrient loading in nearby water bodies.

Properly managing grass clippings by leaving them on the lawn allows the clippings to decompose and return nutrients to the soil, which is beneficial for the grass. Mowing too short can stress the grass and negatively impact its health, while overwatering can lead to runoff due to saturated soil. These actions would contribute to runoff, but they are related to lawn care practices rather than directly involving the handling of clippings.