They're awful hot but you probably know that.

To me, a small amount would be OK but I've never been fond of the look or that rodents like them so much.

I'd be inclined to compost them first.

I used to use them at my old location a lot for weed control. I would put clippings between the rows and it would BURN any weeds that might be there. They do get hot and yes BURN the weeds - so I'd be real cautious about putting them close to your plants - but yes... I've used clippings - quite successfully (I thought).

Grass clippings make excellent mulch applied directly to the tomato bed. You just have to keep the green stuff held back a ways from the base of the plant so you don't burn the stem or root crown.

As far as nutrient value, I wouldn't count solely on grass clippings. Rather I'd still make my initial applications at pre-plant, planting hole, side dressing through the season, etc.

Since grass clippings are basically a source of nitrogen, I use a mulching lawnmower and leave them to feed the turf. The only time I use grass clippings in the tomato bed is when for weather reasons or whatever, I can't cut the grass frequently enough, and the grass gets so high that it leaves windrows when I cut, I let the green windrows dry a day and go back over the yard with the bagger on. I also bag when leaves start dropping, and that goes directly into the tomato bed too.

I use grass clippings for mulch on tomatoes every year, however, I put down a few sheets of newspaper first, then the grass clippings. Like others have mentioned, I don't mulch right up next to the tomato stems either. After everything freezes, we till what's left back into the soil. That, along with some compost from our bins has really improved the soil over the last couple of years.

Well, I remembered to keep the GCs away from the plants and I have plenty of other good stuff in the new bed (aged horse and chicken manure, homemade compost etc) so I guess things will be OK. I didn't put it on very thick. I think I'll just put it in an unused area that hasn't been planted yet til I round up some more browns or mulch some flower areas or something.
Thanks for your responses! Nancy

I use predominately grass clippings.

I put it on thick and right up next to, but not touching, the stems. Great way to reduce early blight/septoria leaf spot infections.

I have had no problems from grass clippings.

Just avoid grass clippings that have been recently sprayed with weed killers, insecticides or fungicides.

If one is worried about the green clippings being hot spread out some (dont pile up) in an area to dry/brown and use that around the plants.

I wet newspaper so it won't blow away, then stack grass clippings on thick. The newspaper keeps the grass from burning the roots, and they work together as a very effective weed barrier and mulch. Keeps splash up diseases in check too.

Tilled in the fall, the Carbon/nitrogen balance of the newspaper and the grass makes for a terrific soil amendment.

I use grass clippings every year. I get them from the recreation dept. and apply them about 1"-2" deep. They dry good this way and generate little heat. Not enough to hurt anything. Then by the time I cover the garden and get back they are dry. If you don't work them in the soil they won't affect your plants as far as too much fertilizer goes. Then I till them in around 4" deep in the fall. Makes great soil. And they keep the weeds down. Like stated above don't use any for at least one and probably two cuttings after any weed spray has been used. I've heard you need to let Bermuda dry well due to it rerooting and starting to grow but I don't use clippings from Bermuda so can't comment on that. In my opinion grass clippings are very good. JD