Are Lawn Mower Bags Universal. Lawn mower grass bagger
Lawn Sweeper Vs Bagger: Which One Is Better
Are you tired of raking grass clippings by hand? Can’t bring yourself to sweep up those fall leaves that are long overdue for cleanup?
Sounds too familiar! Landscaping will wear you out without the proper tools and equipment. All you need to do is upgrade your old hand tools that have seen better days with a lawn sweeper or a bagger.
But which one is better – a lawn sweeper vs bagger?
A bagger is amazing at collecting grass clippings, but a lawn sweeper can do much more. A lawn sweeper is capable of sweeping up all kinds of debris and trash from your yard.
It is the overall best option for people who have to maintain large properties. Want to learn more? Keep on reading! I’ve got lots more in store!
DIY Leaf Bagger | Ride on Lawnmower Hack
- 1 Lawn Sweeper Vs Bagger: Introducing The Opponents
- 1.1 Lawn Sweepers
- 1.1.1 Lawn Sweeper Size
- 1.1.2 Types Of Lawn Sweepers
- 1.1.3 Pros:
- 1.1.4 Cons:
- 1.2.1 Bagger Size
- 1.2.2 Types Of Baggers
- 1.2.3 Pros:
- 1.2.4 Cons:
- 2.1 Collecting Ability
- 2.2 Versatility
- 2.3 Convenience
- 3.1 When Should You Use A Lawn Sweeper?
- 3.2 Is A Lawn Sweeper Worth It?
- 3.3 Will A Lawn Sweeper Pick Up Acorns?
- 3.4 Do Lawn Mower Baggers Work?
Lawn Sweeper Vs Bagger: Introducing The Opponents
Lawn Sweepers
A lawn sweeper is an ingenious mechanical tool designed to remove grass clippings, fall leaves and twigs, pine needles, and other natural debris from your lawn. You can even use it to sweep litter from your driveway and sidewalk or any other paved surface, for that matter.
A lawn sweeper is equipped with a special mechanism for collecting lawn debris, unlike a bagger. It has a rotating brush hidden underneath its deck that picks up accumulated debris from in between the grass. The brush is made of flexible, soft bristles that won’t damage your lawn when going over it.
The brush inside the sweeper simultaneously deposits the collected junk into a hopper or disposable bag. Using a lawn sweeper is as easy as it gets.
Lawn sweepers come available in many sizes and varieties. Let’s take a closer look at all the options available.
Lawn Sweeper Size
The size of your lawn sweeper should correspond with the size of your property. If you pick a lawn sweeper that is too small for your plot of land, you will have to make more passes to collect all the debris.
On the other hand, a lawn sweeper that is too big will be too cumbersome to navigate around the tight corners of your small property.
You can pick the right size for your lawn sweeper by looking at the width and hopper volume:
- Width: A sweeper’s width will determine how much and how quickly you can collect grass clipping and leaves off the lawn. A 21-inch sweeper is sufficient for a small to medium-sized lawn. For a large property, you will need at least a 48-inch sweeper.
- Hopper volume: A hopper is a reusable bag attached to the back of the trolley. Its size is measured in cubic feet. A 12-cubic foot hopper is sufficient for a small yard. For a large yard, you will need 26 cubic feet or bigger.
Types Of Lawn Sweepers
- Tow Behind Lawn Sweeper: can be attached to your lawn/garden tractor or any large vehicle. As you drive your tractor, you will tow the sweeper behind and engage it in sweeping. Make sure the hitch height on the sweeper matches your tractor before purchase. If you are not sure, pick one with a multi-hitch height.
Don’t have a garden tractor? I have reviewed them just for you. Take a look!
- Push Lawn Sweepers: are manually powered when pushed forwards. As the wheels turn, so does the brush, sweeping up and collecting the organic debris along the way.
- Powered Lawn Sweepers: have a motor that does the job for you. They are either powered by electricity or gasoline. Gas-powered sweepers are used for cleaning public parks, football fields, golf courses, and other large properties. Electric models are best for home use.
Pros:
- Can pick up diverse debris
- Can pick up trash
- Different varieties available
- Various sizes available
- Doesn’t damage grass
- Adjustable sweeping height
- Easy to use and operate
- Requires minimal maintenance
Cons:
- Collected leaves can fly out of the open hopper on a windy day
- Can take up a lot of storage space
- May not perform the best on bumpy terrain
Baggers
A bagger is an accessory for a classic push lawn mower or riding mower. It attaches to the back of the lawnmower where it catches and collects grass clippings as you mow the lawn.
A bagger doesn’t have a special mechanism that picks up the grass clippings. Instead, it relies on the airflow created by lawnmower blades to pick up the debris and bag it through the collection chute.
Vacuum leaf baggers are more advanced. They suction lawn debris through a hose that attaches to the deck of a riding mower. Tow behind vacuum leaf baggers are also equipped with a shredder that makes it possible to fit more leaves in the hopper.
Bagger Size
Baggers are available in many different sizes to match lawns of different proportions. A bagger that comes with your classic lawn mower will have a storage of about 18 gallons, which is roughly 2.4 cubic feet. This size will suffice for a small backyard.
For medium lawns, I recommend buying a bagger that has a bigger capacity, for example, 6.5-bushel, or about 8 cubic feet.
Material collection systems like the TerraKing Leaf Bag can hold a whopping 54 cubic feet, which makes them ideal for large properties. Take a look:
Types Of Baggers
There are lots of different types of baggers available on the market. Breaking them down into just a few types is difficult. Here you can see the pictures of the most popular varieties:
Pros:
- Can be used when cutting grass
- Convenient and easy
- Great for collecting grass clippings and fall leaves
- Lots of varieties available
- Available in different sizes
- Baggers for classic lawn mowers are storage friendly
- Requires minimal maintenance
Versus Battle: Features Face To Face
Collecting Ability
It all comes down to efficiency. How many leaves can a device collect in a single sweep?
Lawn sweepers collect leaves fast because of their wide mouths. The wider the lawn sweeper is, the more surface it can cover. You can find lawn sweepers up to 100 inches wide. Such coverage is achieved when multiple smaller lawn sweepers are paired together.
It is impossible to find a bagger with such a large collecting capacity. Baggers are limited by the size of the lawnmower cutting deck. They can collect as wide as a lawnmower or riding mower cuts, which is typically from 42 to 54 inches.
The clear winner of this versus battle is a lawn sweeper. It collects more leaves at once.
Versatility
Both lawn sweepers and baggers are extremely versatile. They can make the tedious work of raking leaves a walk in the park.
A bagger shines when it comes to collecting grass clippings and fall leaves. The lawnmower blade shreds both types of organic matter to make bagging much easier. Lawn sweepers, on the other hand, are pros at picking up different kinds of organic waste.
They can sweep grass clippings, leaves, twigs after pruning, acorns, pine needles, and even trash that the wind has blown onto your driveway.
The clear winner of this battle is the lawn sweeper. It can pick up more diverse lawn debris, as well as trash.
Convenience
A lawn sweeper and a bagger are much more convenient to use than an old-fashioned rake. Still, one is better than the other.
A lawn sweeper is a separate device that you will use after you cut the grass. This means that you will have to go over your lawn at least twice, once when cutting grass and once when collecting it. This may be a little time-consuming.
A bagger collects the grass immediately as you cut it. How convenient is that! Talk about killing two birds with one stone. You will save on time and gas by completing both tasks at once.
The clear winner of this match is the bagger since it is more convenient to use.
FAQs
When Should You Use A Lawn Sweeper?
You should use a lawn sweeper throughout the year to sweep organic debris off your lawn, but it’s best if you use it on a sunny day when the grass is dry. It is more difficult for lawn sweepers to collect wet grass and leaves, but they’re still better at picking up wet grass than baggers.
Is A Lawn Sweeper Worth It?
Owning a lawn sweeper is worth it if you have a yard with lush, fast-growing grass with trees that lose lots of leaves in the fall. Raking such large amounts of lawn debris by hand is exhausting and time-consuming. In this case, a lawn sweeper is worth every penny.
Will A Lawn Sweeper Pick Up Acorns?
A lawn sweeper can pick up acorns as well as pine needles, twigs, fall leaves, and grass clippings. A lawn sweeper can even be used on paved surfaces to pick up trash. The rotating brush can pick up all sorts of lawn debris it comes across.
Do Lawn Mower Baggers Work?
Lawn mowers work great when correctly fitted and attached to the push mower or riding mower. Lawn mower baggers work best when the weather is sunny and the grass is dry. They are bad at bagging wet grass clippings since they get clogged more often in wet conditions.
Landscaping Can Be Fun
One thing is for certain! Maintaining curb appeal with a lawn sweeper or a bagger is easy. Both tools can turn your once exhausting landscaping chores into a fun and exciting hobby.
But first, you have to choose the right tool for your needs. Which one is better? A lawn sweeper vs bagger? Let’s find out:
Buy a lawn sweeper if you:
- Have a lush lawn that requires lots of trimming.
- Have acorns in your yard.
- Would like to pick up trash from your driveway and sidewalk.
- Would like to have a separate device for bagging.
- Intend to bag wet grass every now and then.
- Have a large property that requires upkeep.
- Have plenty of storage space.
- Have a push lawn mower, riding mower, or a garden tractor.
- Will mostly bag grass clippings and leaves.
- Would like to cut and collect grass both at once.
- Intend to pick up dry grass.
- Don’t mind making more passes to cover the whole area.
- Are short on storage space.
Last update on 2023-05-25 at 05:39 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Brett’s the kind of guy you’d never peg as having such an amazing yard. He’s shy and private, avoiding social media and the spotlight. By day, Brett works quietly as an electrician technician, helping folks with wiring and repairs. But get Brett home to his place in Raleigh, where Nadya’s always dreaming up new landscaping ideas, and you see another side of him. Brett happily rolls up his sleeves to transform their modest backyard into a lush, cozy oasis. The yard’s really a labor of love for them, a place to unwind on weekends, entertain friends, and make cherished memories together. Nadya might come up with all the creative concepts, but Brett’s the one ensuring each vision comes to stunning life. They make a great team, even if Brett’s content to operate behind the scenes. At heart, Brett’s a simple man who finds purpose and joy in small things. Puttering in their garden under the sun or cooking out back in the evenings. these are the things that fulfill him. Brett cares deeply for crafting a space ideal for intimacy, nurturing a life well-lived away from fanfare. Follow him on
About me
My name is Nadya and I live in Raleigh, NC. I am a wife, a writer, and an enthusiastic designer! In my blog, I write about home and backyard design and the products that inspire me.
Latest posts
Don’t have enough storage space in your garage to put away all your expensive tools and yard equipment? Thinking of.
Ever wondered what slippery floors and trash bags have in common? They can both cause you to land unsafely on.
Do you want to feed your backyard birds even when summer is over and the weather turns cold? Wondering how.
Amazon Affiliate Disclosure
ANestWithAYard.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Read more in our Privacy Policy
Lawn Mower Bagger Repair. Easy Fix!
Contact Us
P. O. #5224441 Six Forks RdRaleigh, NC 27609
Are Lawn Mower Bags Universal?
As an Amazon Associate, this site earns commissions from qualifying purchases. For more information click here.
If you are looking for a bagger or grass catcher for your rider mower, one question that is probably stuck in your mind is, which one do I choose? Is the bagger you have in mind compatible with your mower? Or can you choose any type of bagger and it will work just fine? In this guide we will answer that question and other related subjects about lawn mower baggers.
Lawn mower bags are not interchangeable. While you should be able to attach almost any bagger to your mower, it may not run effectively. Always choose a bagger that is compatible with your lawn mower make and model.
Why Lawn Mower Baggers are Not Universal
Can you connect any type of bagger to a lawn mower rider? Probably. Most baggers are hooked up to lawn mowers the same way. But it is not 100% guaranteed. Even if you can plug any bagger to any rider, you should look for on that is fully compatible. Here is why.
Mower bagger mechanisms are not identical. If you shop for lawn mower bags online, look at the specifications. All the mower makes and models the bagger is compatible with are listed.
Take the MTD Double Bagger for instance. It is compatible with Craftsman, Troy Bilt and Cub Cadet rider mowers with 50-54 inch cutting decks. Can you hook this up to another mower brand? Maybe, but why take the risk when you can buy a bagger that is guaranteed to work with your lawn mower?
Capacity requirements differ. Lawn mower bagger capacities range from 3 bushels up to 10. The number of bins can be two for small mowers and up to 3 for larger models.
If you have a large yard, a 10 bushel, 3 bin bagger is ideal. If you have a small yard, a 3 bushel grass catcher will be enough. From a practical viewpoint, there is no need to us a 10 bushel bagger if you have a small to mid-sized yard. If you have a big yard it does not make sense to use a small bagger.
Another benefit of installing a certified compatible bagger is peace of mind. If you know that the bagger is compatible, you can feel confident about installing it. If the bagger is not and something goes wrong, fixing will be harder.
What Lawn Mower Bagger Do I Need?
The simplest way is to check your owner’s manual. There should be information detailing what grass catcher type and size works best with your mower. You can also go to the manufacturer website. Chances are the company sells baggers that are guaranteed to work with your rider.
If you are in a hurry, use this quick guide to get started. These are the typical bagger sizes for these mowers, but yours might be different. To be certain, refer to the manufacturer.
Suggested Bagger Size for Mowers
| 50-54 inches | 10 bushels | 3 | Large rider mowers |
| 42-46 inches | 6 bushels | 2 | Medium rider mowers |
| 30 inches | 3 bushels | 2 | Small rider mower |
These are the most common mower deck sizes. If yours is not included, go with the next larger bagger. But that should not be necessary because most manufacturers make their own grass catchers.
The size given above is for rider and tractor mowers only. Walk behind lawn mowers use simpler ones like the Braveboy Grass Bag. It is usually made of nylon mesh. As the mower cuts the grass, the clippings are sent into the discharge chute and into the bag. When the bag is filled up, you detach it from the mower and empty the contents.
The baggers or grass catchers used on rider mowers are made from hard plastic or composite materials. Like those found on walk behind mowers, the clippings are sent to the discharge chute and into the bins.
As technology advances, more and more types of lawn mower baggers will appear. The compatibility may improve as well. As it is, there are third party baggers that work with many poplar lawnmower brands.
What to Look For in a Lawn Mower Bagger
Aside from the capacity, there are a few more things you need to consider.
Leaf bag attachment. If your lawn mower has an existing bagging system and you work exclusively with leaves, a leaf bag is the best option. These are basically just bags with a large capacity – 40 bushels or more – and compatible with any rider mower. This will only work with a bagging mechanism in place, but if yours has one this is worth considering.
Efficiency. The larger the grass catcher, the more debris it can hold. This also means fewer times required to empty it. This is something to consider if you have a large yard. The same applies to the bins: the more bins the less time needed to empty.
Ease of use. A well-made bagger should be easy to install. Use a discharge chute to connect the bag to the mower deck. If necessary, point it to the bins at the back of your mower so the debris and clippings fall straight in.
Ventilation and handles. A good bagger system should have well-ventilated bins for air circulation. Ergonomic and comfortable handles are also essential. This might not seem important, but if you have to empty the bins reputedly, comfort becomes paramount.
Chute size and transparency. The larger the chute opening, the less likely it will clog up. Transparency is optional, but it does make it easier to check if debris are blocking it.
Durability. What material is the bagger made of? Can it withstand rigorous use? Check the product description. This is important if you have a large lawn and have to conduct several mowing sessions.
Collection Systems
Ferris lawn mowers are built for productivity and our offering of compatible attachments takes that notion another step further. With time-saving offerings from Turbo-Pro, Fast-Vac, and other partners there is a helpful attachment for your Ferris mower. If you have any questions on fit, assembly, or use your local Ferris dealer will be more than happy to help.
TURBO-Pro /h3>
The TURBO-Pro System is a lightweight blower assembly ideal for use with compact models in all cutting conditions throughout the entire season.
TURBO-Pro Max
This go-to system for landscapers acts as a lawn vacuum for a clean finish. It quickly mounts to the deck with tool-less stainless steel hardware. It is ideal for use in all conditions found throughout the season.
FAST-Vac
The rugged impeller utilizes industrial-grade bearings, generating phenomenal air flow for use in heavy and wet cutting conditions. Its spindle-driven vertical turbo is narrower, allowing you to get in and out of tight places.
TURBO-Pro /h3>
The TURBO-Pro makes collecting leaves and debris a breeze. This grass collector system utilizes oversized drive and idler pulleys combined with a long drive belt for cool running and maximum belt life. The curved blade impeller reduces impeller speed and noise while maximizing air velocity. This commercial mower system mounts to the deck with a fabricated heavy-duty steel plate. The blower housing is protected with a 1″ heavy-gauge tubular bumper. No tools are required after the unit has been installed to switch from grass bagging to non-bagging. The TURBO-Pro is a lightweight blower assembly and is ideal for use with compact lawnmowers.
Blower Dimensions: Width: 19-inches | Weight: 56 lbs. | Impeller Fin: 2-inches
Durable composite impeller housing with reinforced metal plate for high contact debris areas
Heavy-duty oversized drive and idler pulleys combined with a long drive belt allow for cool running and maximum belt life
Curved steel blade impeller reduces noise
After initial installation, the quick attach design can be mounted or removed with no tools in a few minutes