Lawn mower and mulcher. Convert Lawn Mower To Mulcher: Here’s How To Do It

Convert Lawn Mower To Mulcher: Here’s How To Do It

Mulching your grass clippings back into the lawn is the most efficient way to return nutrients to the soil and keep your lawn in tip-top shape. However, most lawnmowers on the market today make use of (often inefficient) side discharges or bagging attachments. Is there a way to increase the mulching capabilities of such machines?

Anyone can convert their lawn mower into a mulching mower by simply adding a mulching kit. These kits consist of a mulching blade and a restrictor plate for the grass chute. The blade chops clippings into smaller pieces and the plate keeps them from being propelled from the mowing deck.

That question is our primary FOCUS today, as we examine all the ways you can turn a regular lawnmower into a mulcher. We’ll discuss the benefits of such a conversion before we give you a few tips on the best ways to go about it.

Should You Convert A Regular Mower Into A Mulching Mower?

Before we get into whether you can turn a standard lawnmower into a mulcher, we have to look at the potential benefits of doing so.

Mulching Is A Great Way To Feed Nutrients Into Your Lawn.

The fine clippings from a mulcher decompose at a far quicker rate than the larger clippings from a standard side-discharge machine. This allows essential nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium to be released into the soil to boost your lawn’s health even further.

Mulched Clippings Help Boost Your Soil’s Moisture Content.

This allows you to skip watering your lawn from time to time. Mulch clippings are almost entirely made up of water, which is slowly reabsorbed by the soil as they decompose. This is especially helpful during hot seasons.

Mulching Can Save You Time.

It helps you save time that would otherwise be spent raking grass clippings or emptying a collector bag. Mulching mowers fire refined grass clippings into the ground neatly as you mow, an ability that makes them far more practical than your run-off-the-mill side-discharger.

Mulching is good for the environment.

It’s a much more efficient practice than dumping clippings at landfills or dumpsites. Mulched clippings are a much cleaner fertilizer than most commercial varieties. The moisture-boosting properties of grass clippings allow you to save water.

Mulching Saves Money

Speaking of saving, mulching your clippings will do your wallet a favor. You won’t have to spend as much money on store-bought fertilizers, and you can keep your water bill down.

How To Turn Your Regular Lawn Mower Into A Mulching Mower

Now, you’ll be pleased to know that it is possible to get mulching mower-like results from your standard mower. Many bagging and side-discharge mowers can be “converted” into mulchers in different ways.

The most common approach is to use a mulching conversion kit, which includes a restriction plate and a mulching blade. These kits are typically made for specific models from specific makes, so it’s rarely a “one size fits all” deal.

Switch The Mower Blade To A Mulching Blade

Mulching blades have curved surfaces and longer cutting edges than standard blades. When the blades are cutting grass, the curved surfaces cause the clippings to be sucked up to the mower deck. When these clippings fall back towards the ground, they encounter the blade and are cut into even smaller pieces.

Add A Restrictor Plate

A restriction plate is used to block the chutes on a side-discharge mower. This forces most of the clippings to remain in the deck and drop back down toward the blade.

Another “conversion” method is to simply aim your mower’s discharge chute(s) to the spots you want to mulch. This method is not as refined (no pun) as a conversion kit, but it may prove highly beneficial in a pinch.

Some Mowers Have Built In Conversion Switches

A lot of modern lawnmowers can now be configured to discharge, bag, or mulch grass clippings. Conversion, in this case, is simply a matter of flicking a switch.

Steps To Convert A Lawn Mower Into A Mulcher

It’s time to look at the steps you can take to turn your mower into a mulching beast.

Using A Mulching Conversion Kit

Let’s start with the mulching conversion kit method. For the best results, we recommend that you use both a mulching blade and a restrictive plate. Using one or the other in isolation will result in a significant portion of your clippings being discharged or bagged.

If you plan on installing a conversion kit on a walk-behind mower, you will have to turn the mower onto its side. Make sure the carburetor side is up to avoid spillages. To access the underside of a riding mower, you will have to use a hydraulic jack to raise the front wheels. You can also use a forklift if you have access to one.

Also, always ensure that your mower is off and that the sparkplug is disconnected before accessing the underside of the deck.

Now, the first thing you want to do is use a wrench to remove the bolt that holds your mower blade in place. This bolt may be tightly secure, so you may have to hit the handle of the wrench with a hammer to get it to budge.

Once the original blade is removed, you must install the mulching blade. Screw the bolt in as tightly as you can.

You can also use the hammer method (in reverse) to make sure the bolt is secure. It is usually advisable to simply hand tighten the bolt holding on the mower blade.

The restriction plate must be installed as per the manufacturer’s instructions. You can get a lawnmower specialist to install your conversion kit for you if you aren’t confident with the modifications.

Mulching And Raking Grass Clippings

If you do not have access to a mulching conversion kit, you can try to use your side-discharge mower to fire grass clippings in a particular direction.

You must start by identifying the area you wish to mulch, before positioning the mower so the chutes are aimed at this area. You should also raise your mower deck if it can be adjusted in this way. A high mow will reduce the overall length of your clippings.

Chances are you will have to mow in a spiral (starting outside and going in) to get your clippings in the desired area. Keep returning to the starting position and repeating the spiral, making sure to lower the mower deck slightly each time. Repeat until you are satisfied.

Because the aiming method is not as efficient, you must use a rake to distribute the mulch as you wish. A quick watering will help prevent the clippings from being blown away.

A Riding Lawn Mower Mulcher Attachment

Garden tractors, in particular, are well known for their versatility in different landscaping and agricultural scenarios. The use of attachments (or “implements”) is at the heart of this versatility. These attachments are what enable a tractor to be used for cutting grass during one season and clearing snow the next.

There are also attachments for mulching while you mow your grass. These are commonly referred to as mounted mulching kits. John Deere is one of the pioneers of this kind of implement and, today, the brand makes kits that are highly effective and easy to install.

The Final Touches To Converting A Lawn Mower Into A Mulcher…

The mulching kit or a built in mulching option is far superior to the second method, but sometimes all that is needed is basic distribution of the grass cuttings.

Mathew has worked in landscaping professionally for over 10 years. He is a grandpa and frequently interviews other experienced landscapers and lawn care experts who are also grandpas for these articles.

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Mulching Lawn Mower Vs. Regular Mower

Are you interested and looking for a comparison on a normal lawn mower and a mulching mower? Here we discuss the pros and cons of both.

First of all, you probably need to know what a mulching mower is and how the best mulching walk behind mower is owned by many.

So, what is a mulching mower? A mulching mower eliminates the need to rake or bag your grass. But there’s more! The clippings don’t just vanish, and these grass clippings actually turn into mulch that benefits your lawn. And on the other hand, I’m pretty sure we all know what a normal lawn mower is. If you’re looking for a good one under 300, check out this fantastic list.

So now, what are the differences between these two different mowers?

Blades

The mulching mower’s blades which we will call mulching blades are much curvier and also displays an increased cutting edge. These blades not only cut your grass but cuts them several more times until they are dropped back into the ground with its size much smaller. Just so you know, these blades are also called as 3-in-1 blades.

As you probably could’ve guessed, these blades are called 3-in-1 for a reason. These blades give three choices, and you can either bag, discharge or mulch the grass clippings. Meanwhile, with the standard or the 2-in-1 blade, which I’m just going to call as standard blade. These blades are designed to cut grass then discharge them or just bag them, which is why these are called 2-in-1 blades. These blades are also most commonly used by professionals.

The Decks Design

The mulching mower’s deck design enables the grass cuttings to keep on circulating around the blades. This causes the grass clippings to be cut into much smaller pieces. Some of the mulching mower’s deck design is also much higher and deeply domed compared to the standard mower’s deck design.

Some mulching mowers also provide a baffle which practically directs or channels not only the grass clippings, but it also directs the air. If you want to be fancier, some models of mulching mowers actually present you with an adjustable baffle which allows you to switch in two different categories or modes: the mulching and also the discharge modes.

Recirculation and High Lift

As mentioned earlier, mulching mowers causes the clippings to circulate around the blade, which cut the grass clippings several more times. The blades of these mowers are designed to have bends and curves which enables a recirculating air flow. On the other hand, with standard lawn mowers, its blades are designed to forcefully throw the grass clippings up and outward so that the clippings are discharged by the standard mower’s deck.

If you’re having a hard time on choosing between these two, then I hope that after you read this, and you were able to get more of an idea on what product you want to choose and buy.

Hello, hope you enjoy these blog posts and get some useful lawn care tips from reading the info. Let me know if you have any questions or Комментарии и мнения владельцев below.

Mulching vs Side Discharge: Which One Wins As The Best Lawn Mower?

Mulching vs side discharge compares the two most commonly used lawnmowers today. On the one hand, you have mulching mowers that can mulch and fertilize grass while cutting it simultaneously.

On the other hand, you have side discharge ones that allow you to cut wet, long grass and cover a large area. Find out the basic differences between both of them in this well-researched guide.

• Mulching vs Side Discharge Comparison Table
• What Is The Difference Between Mulching and Side Discharge?
• What Are The Characteristics Of Mulching Mowers?

• – Serves As a Fertilizer
• – Needs Less Cleanup Afterwards
• – Safer Than Side Discharge
• – Makes The Grass Look Lush
• – Not Good for Wet or Long Grass

• – Mows Large Areas Quickly
• – Can Be Used On All Soil Types
• – Works Even On Wet and Tall Grass
• – Less Frequent Mowing Needed
• – Side Discharge Is Very Messy
• – Waste Of Grass Clippings

• – Should You Mulch Every Time You Mow?
• – Do You Have To Mow Slower When Mulching?
• – Will Mulching Weeds Spread Them?
• – Why Does My Mulching Mower Leave Clumps Of Grass?

What Is The Difference Between Mulching and Side Discharge?

The main difference between mulching and side discharge is that mulching types have curved blades that cut grass into very small pieces. There is no opening for discharging the lawn cuttings. A side discharge has an opening through which it throws the clippings out.

What Are The Characteristics Of Mulching Mowers?

Some important characteristics of mulching are that it serves as an effective fertilizer. needs less clean up, and makes for a healthier lawn.

– Serves As a Fertilizer

Mulching blades help you to fertilize your lawn while you mow it simultaneously. What happens is that they cut off the grass finely, and then the cut grass moves into the cutting deck. where it is chopped up into different finer pieces.

These very finely cut pieces of grass are then strewn across the lawn while the mower moves from one end to another. These are naturally rich in nitrogen and serve as organic mulch and fertilizer.

Because they are cut into such small pieces, they get decomposed in a short amount of time. In many ways, this natural fertilizer works much better than any organic fertilizer. What is even better is that these clippings are laid down in a neat little layer that does not ruin the overall look of the lawn.

– Needs Less Cleanup Afterwards

Unless you live someplace very windy, using mulching types of blades will need very little cleanup after mowing. If tall buildings surround your lawn, then the mulch clippings will be automatically prevented from being blown away by strong winds.

The grass cuttings laid over the lawn by these blades are pretty neat and do not give a rough appearance. However, if you still want to clean up your lawn after mowing. that is quite easy.

over, these mowers have the option of turning off the mulching mode as well. You can simply choose to collect the grass clippings instead of converting them into mulch or discharging it from the side.

– Safer Than Side Discharge

These mower blades are much safer compared to side discharge blades. This mower keeps all the clippings contained under the body of the mower.

This means no more cut grass pieces flying off the sides. This is handy when people and pets are around, and you do not want pieces of grass going into their eyes.

– Makes The Grass Look Lush

Using mulching blades to mow the lawn and simultaneously spread grass clippings as mulch over it will make your lawn lusher. Mulch acts as an organic layer over the entire lawn, which prevents excessive water from evaporating. In fact, mulch can help retain as much as 80 percent of water. compared to grass that is not covered by mulch.

So basically, these grass cuttings not only help retain water but provide nutrition as well. You will notice your grass becoming greener and lusher than ever.

However, remember that only grass varieties with wide blades take kindly to being mulched. Do research on what grass variety you have growing on your lawn and whether you should mulch it or not.

– Not Good for Wet or Long Grass

Mulching mowers are not suitable for cutting wet grass. When cut into small pieces by such blades, wet grass gets stuck inside the cutting deck and is not discharged by the mower.

Unless you clean the deck after each use, these wet and clumped-up clippings will also affect the efficient working of the mower blades.

over, the curved end of the mulching blade does not give it the freedom to cut very long grass either. Again, using this blade to cut long grass will lead to the deck clogged and random long pieces of grass collecting patches over the lawn.

What Are The Characteristics of Side Discharge?

Some important characteristics of side discharge are that it can quickly mow grass in very large areas of land, is suitable for all soil types, and, most importantly, will even cut tall and moist grass.

– Mows Large Areas Quickly

A side discharge mower is great for mowing lawns that are large in size. This mower will do the work much faster if you allow the cut grass to blow in various directions.

This mower is much faster because it does not have to spend time converting cut grass into mulch. The mower just keeps cutting ahead with its sharp blades and discharging the cut pieces on the side in a very short amount of time.

– Can Be Used On All Soil Types

A discharge mower has the great advantage of working on all soils, lawns, and grass types. Do not worry about it if your lawn is made up of a mostly sandy type of lawn.

Still, the grass blades need to be taller if this mower is to cut them efficiently. You will find it hard to mow grass that does not grow very tall.

The surface of the lawn is also better flat or smooth for discharge to work properly. Otherwise, the grass will get cut up unevenly.

– Works Even On Wet and Tall Grass

Compared to mulching mowers, discharge ones are very effective against wet or tall grass. This is because they have an opening on the side from which the lawn clippings get thrown out. These wet or long clippings will not get stuck within the blades or cutting deck.

This is good news for you because you will not have to clean your mower after each use. You will also not have to wait for the rainwater or the early morning dew to dry before embarking on lawn mowing.

If you do not have time for regular lawn care or your grass seems to grow tall quickly, then this is the mower you need to have. The shape of the side discharge blade allows you to cut wet and tall grass easily compared to that of a mulching type of blade.

– Less Frequent Mowing Needed

A discharge mower will save a lot of time because less frequent mowing will be needed. Firstly, this is because it can mow very tall grass without any risk of it getting choked up. The grass can grow tall whenever you are busy and then be easily cut off when you get the time for it.

Secondly, the side-discharge mowers are designed so that their blades can cut very close to the ground. For grasses that can be mowed low, this is very useful.

You can mow them as low as possible and take a break until the grass grows again. We are sure that those who live hectic lives or are not that invested in constant lawn care will be very happy with this feature.

– Side Discharge Is Very Messy

Side discharge basically works by splattering grass clippings several feet away from the mower. Because of how the blades work, these clippings are strewn in all directions, making your lawn look messy.

Walls and fence that might be lining the lawn will get their fair share of grass splatters. If wet grass is cut, it will literally stick to any surrounding boundary or car parked alongside the lawn or the turf.

You will also have to ensure no one is around when cutting grass with side-discharge lawn mowers. Humans and pets might cut grass into their eyes, which can be quite harmful.

– Waste Of Grass Clippings

Honestly, using side discharge instead of mulching mowers seems like a waste of grass cuttings. The grass cut by side-discharge type blades is much too large to serve as an effective fertilizer.

over, these clippings are randomly strewn over the lawn and serve no purpose. In fact, they sometimes look so bad that they need to be removed from the lawn after mowing.

Some of the latest mower types allow you to bag grass clippings and store them. This will save you from cleaning the lawn after mowing, but you will still have to deal with the bagged clippings by yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

– Should You Mulch Every Time You Mow?

It is unnecessary to mulch your grass every time you mow, but it is beneficial. Mulching types of mowers are great because they give you the option of either turning cut grass into mulch or bagging it for any other use.

If you mulch grass every time you mow, you will see a great improvement in the condition of the lawn. A layer of mulch will help retain more moisture during hot days. decompose quickly, and turn into fertilizer.

– Do You Have To Mow Slower When Mulching?

Yes, you have to mow slower when mulching grass while mowing. A mulching-type blade must cut grass clippings multiple times to become a worthy mulching material. Naturally, it cannot do so if you use the mower at a very high speed.

With this mower, you need to go slowly also because it gets clogged up easily. Grass cuttings have no escape when the side discharge opening is closed. If you are going too fast, you risk getting the cutting deck clogged much faster.

– Will Mulching Weeds Spread Them?

Yes. mulching weeds will spread them all over the lawn. During mowing and mulching, the weed seeds will also get converted into mulch along with the grass blades.

These seeds will then be spread all over the lawn by the mower along with the mulch. Soon, you will notice weeds erupting where they were not growing. That is why we do not recommend mulching unless your lawn is completely weed-free.

– Why Does My Mulching Mower Leave Clumps Of Grass?

Your mulching-type mower is probably leaving clumps of grass because you are mowing wet grass. This mower is not designed to mow wet grass efficiently.

Not only does it leave clumps of grass behind, but that machine also gets clogged.

Conclusion

You have now read a great deal about the mulching vs side discharge types of mowers. The main difference between them lies in their design and blade shape.

If you have a small lawn with grass that will grow better when mulched, then a mulching type of mower will suit you the best. For larger lawns and grass that grows tall frequently, a side discharge type of mower might be a better choice.

The Best Mulching Lawn Mower, According to 34,280 Customer Reviews

Welcome to the Thomas guide to the best mulching lawn mowers 2023. Thomas has been connecting North American industrial buyers and suppliers for more than 120 years. When you purchase products through our independent recommendations, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Professional gardeners and landscapers know the value of a good mulching lawn mower and its addition to any project involving a thriving and healthy lawn—which is why mulching lawn mowers are often staples in a pro’s collection of outdoor power equipment. Mulching mowers work by mulching cut grass or leaves to create a top layer of essential nutrients required for healthy lawn care.

Most mulching mowers work well for the average lawn (though a commercial mower would be needed for larger jobs) and come in self-propelled models for sloped properties. A mower with mulching technology can prove to be an organic, free, and useful way to recycle grass clippings to ensure a healthy and beautiful lawn.

Mulch, like compost, not only provides fertilizer to a yard, it also helps keep soil temperature even and moist, especially in hot summer weather. It also provides protection for vital insects to aerate and maintain the lawn’s healthy roots.

Here is a list of the best mulching lawn mowers, followed by a buying guide to help you select the best mulching lawn mower.

Thomas’ Top Picks for the Best Mulching Lawn Mowers 2023

Read our top picks below for the best mulching lawn mower to cut up to one acre of lawn.

Best Battery-Powered Lawn Mower: Greenworks Mulching Lawn Mower | Buy Now

Best Mulching Mower for Tall Grass: Worx WG779 40V Power Share Push Mower | Buy Now

Best Mulching Mower with Large Cutting Deck: Toro TimeMaster 30-inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower | Buy Now

Find out what the best lawn mowers for mulch mowing work are and what thousands of buyers had to say about them.

listed in this article were as shown in US on amazon.com (USA), and homedepot.com as of May 2023

Best Compact Mulching Lawn Mower—Ryobi One Mulching Mower

For small yards that are less than a ¼-acre, this small 13-inch cordless Ryobi mulching mower is the perfect option. The 18V battery lasts up to 30 minutes on a full charge and folds nicely for compact storage in a garage or shed.

It has a cutting height that ranges from 1.5 to 4 inches, and another helpful feature is that the included grass bag can easily be removed to utilize the mulching capability.

One customer described it as “lightweight” and added that it conveniently “mulches, so no stopping to unload [the] catcher (although that’s an option). I’m a retired widow, and this is perfect for me to get my small yard done.”

Cutting width: 13 inches

Acres: ¼ acre or less

Cutting positions: 7

BUY NOW: US299, The Home Depot

Also Available at: Amazon

Best Lightweight Mower—Sun Joe Mulching Mower

Most lawn mowers tend to be heavy, making them unmaneuverable for some people, but this 34-pound Sun Joe is so light that it feels like a self-propelled mower. This is the right lawn mower for older people or anyone who is looking for a lightweight mulching mower.

The brushless motor and 48 volts can cut grass for up to 30 minutes when fully charged and is ideal for small to medium yards. The alloy steel deck is available in 16-, 17-, or 21-inch cutting widths and grass clippings can be bagged or mulched.

“Mulched great,” raved one reviewer. “I was able to mow my parents’ lawn in record time. I can lift it and put it in the back of my car one-handed.”

Cutting width: 17-inches

Acres: Under ½ acre

Cutting positions: 6

BUY NOW: US349, Snow Joe

Also Available at: Lowe’s, BJ’s, RC Willey, Sears

Best Rear-Wheel Drive Mulching Mower—Worx Self-Propelled Mulch Mowing Tool

This battery-powered Worx rear-drive mower is the right mulching lawn mower for anyone with an uneven lawn with steep inclines and thicker grass.

This self-propelled lawn mower has similar power to that of gas mowers without the noise and exhaust fumes and has Auto-Intellicut technology to intuitively adjust to grass height. The mower deck is alloy steel, and the 40V battery can be used on all Worx tools.

“Unbelievably good,” expressed one purchaser. “Great cutting and mulching capabilities. No sound, [and] battery lasts an hour on a full charge. Amazing little mower.”

Cutting width: 20-inches

Acres: ¼ acre

Cutting positions: 7

BUY NOW: US506.94 (US549.99), Amazon

Also Available at: WORX, Walmart, The Home Depot and Target

Best Battery-Powered Lawn Mower—Greenworks Mulching Mower

As far as battery-powered mowers go, this Greenworks mulching mower has one of the longer battery lives and can perform grass-cutting maintenance of up to 550 square feet when fully charged.

The cutting blades are metal to ensure the best mowing and mulching on most grass clippings, especially for clumped grass. The grass clipping can be mulched or stored in the grass catcher bag.

“Exactly what I wanted,” described one shopper. “Battery operated. Lightweight and easy to use. Recently switched to mulching rather than bagging. Works like a charm. Battery lasts longer than I do.”

Cutting width: 16-inches

Acres: ½ acre

Cutting positions: 5

BUY NOW: US312.95, Amazon

Also Available at: Greenworks Tools, Walmart, and Sam’s Club

Best Electric Mulching Lawn Mower—American Lawn Mower Corded Mower

Mixing impressive power with a compact and lightweight design, this small American Lawn Mower Company mower, with its average size blade width, is lighter than most mowers and can mulch too.

This electric mower features an 11-amp motor, adjustable cutting heights that range from 1–2.5 inches, and steel mulching blades. A properly rated outdoor extension cord is advised for use with this electric mower.

One buyer raved, “It is lightweight, easy to turn with, and it completely mulches small sticks, leaves, and other things that find their way onto the lawn. I was worried that because it was so cheap that it wouldn’t work well, but this thing is powerful.”

Cutting width: 14-inches

Acres: ¼ acre

Cutting positions: 5

Best Gas-Powered Mulching Lawn Mower—Honda Mulching Mowers

The gas engine of this Honda self-propelled lawn mower has superior mulching capabilities and can devour even the thickest grass blades. It can turn grass clippings into fine mulch at the flick of a switch to help support a healthy lawn.

The rear wheels make maneuvering up sloped inclines easier and won’t slide, even when there’s too much grass under the wheels. The only caveat is that this mower does not come with a side discharge option.

“Easy pull-start,” reported one customer. “Great propulsion. Clean cut, excellent mulching; pulverized a small pile of leaves in seconds.”

Cutting width: 21-inches

Acres: up to ½ acre

Cutting positions: 7

BUY NOW: US549, The Home Depot

Also Available at: Amazon, Acme Tools, and CPO Outlet

Best Lawn Mower with Rear Bag—Greenworks Mulching Mowers

Capable of handling even moist grass clippings, this Greenworks mulching mower is perfect for smaller or medium yards of up to ½ acre. The 40V battery lasts up to 45 minutes on a single charge, and this tool comes with a four-year tool warranty.

Features include side discharge, steel cutting blades, and mulch mowing settings. “Used it for the first time on very tall grass, worked extremely well,” clarified one reviewer. “Great battery life. Bagged well.”

Another happy buyer wrote, “Wet grass will stick to the underside, but after it sits a week or so, the grass ‘composts’ and falls off freely, leaving a ring of damp mulch on the ground.”

Cutting width: 21-inches

Acres: ½ acre

Cutting positions: 7

BUY NOW: US434.98 (Was US479.99), Amazon

Also Available at: Walmart, Greenworks

Best Lawn Mower for Tall Grass—Worx Battery Power Mulching Mowers

Mowers nowadays tend to have many capabilities, and this all-in-one lawn mower, mulcher, and bagger from Worx is no exception. This cordless mower cuts up to ⅛ acres with its steel mulching blade and is available in 14-, 17-, 19-, 20-, and 21-inch cutting decks.

It also comes with a three-year limited warranty. This tool also has side discharge, six-position height adjustment, and folds in half for compact storage.

“WORX? Yes, it does,” expressed one shopper. “Economy mode gave me about an hour of charge. Even after mowing grass three feet tall. Works very well.”

Cutting width: 14 inches

Acres: ⅛ acre

Cutting positions: 6

BUY NOW: US289.99, Amazon

Also Available at: Worx, Sam’s Club, and Target

Best Lawn Mower for Fine Mulch—Troy-Bilt Mulching Mowers

To maintain a pristine lawn on flat terrain, this gas mower from Troy-Bilt is an ideal option thanks to its tall rear wheels, which are 11 inches high and provide more grip when pushing this 60-pound mower.

This machine’s Briggs Stratton motor can handle cutting up to ¼ acre of land, and grass clippings can be mulched while the mower blades push cut grass through the side discharge.

One customer described it as a “great mulching lawn mower straight out of the box with simple assembly,” and wrote, “Add oil and gas, and you’re off. Great for small yards and places where it’s too small for a zero turn or rider.”

Cutting width: 21 inches

Acres: ¼ acres

Cutting positions: 6

Best Mulching Lawn Mower with Large Cutting Deck—Toro TimeMaster Self-Propelled Mulching Mowers

The massive cutting width of this 30-inch Toro gas mower can handle up to one acre of land, and even the thickest, toughest grass doesn’t stand a chance against this 140-pound beast.

The self-propelled feature along with the 10-inch rear wheels work well on uneven terrain, while the durable 13-gauge steel deck and Briggs Stratton engine are designed for years of heavy-duty use. This product comes with a three-year warranty.

“This mower is easy to start,” reported one buyer. “Exceptional at mulching. Four stars on bagging and has a great looking cut just like the 40-year-old Toro I still have.”

Cutting width: 30-inches

Acres: up to 1 acre

Adjustable positions: 7

BUY NOW: US1,599, The Home Depot

Also Available at: Walmart, Tractor Supply

The Best Mulching Mowers—Summary

To take care of lawns of up to one acre of land that has sloped or uneven terrain, Toro’s TimeMaster self-propelled mulching lawn mowers (US1,599, The Home Depot) are highly rated.

For smaller lawns that require maneuverability and compact storage, the Ryobi cordless mulching lawn mower (US299, The Home Depot) is ideal thanks to its lightweight and small design.

Choosing the Best Mulching Lawn Mowers—Buying Guide

One of the most powerful mulching tools is the gas-powered mower. Used by professionals, this mower with a gas engine can handle larger lawns and dense weeds. Other mulching lawn mower options include electric mowers that are either corded or cordless, as well as walk-behind or self-propelled mowers.

Our guide below covers what to look for when shopping for a good mulching mower for your needs.

Multiple Uses

One of the first features to look for in a mulching mower is if it has other functionality like if it can mulch and bag leaves or if it comes with side-discharge. A side-discharge feature reduces thick debris getting stuck in the blade as the mower moves forward.

Technology

expensive mulching mowers have additional features that recycle mulch to produce smaller mulching ratios making it easier to cut thicker and taller grass.

Power Types

A gas mower is the most powerful type of mulching mower available, thanks to its engine. Gas mowers are suitable for larger lawns with tall and thick grass. Electric mowers need to be plugged into an outlet and can be used to mulch small to medium-sized lawns. A cordless mower runs on battery power, with each battery typically lasting up to 45 minutes on one charge. They are designed to mulch small to medium yards.

Walk-Behind and Self-Propelled Mulching Mowers

Both these lawn mower varieties are available as mulching mowers. Walk-behind mowers must be manually pushed, and most models have bagging and side discharge features. Self-propelled mowers require users to simply guide the mower as it practically pushes itself, meaning that less effort is required on the part of the user. These types are ideal for uneven or sloped yards.

We hope our review of the best mulching mowers has been helpful for whatever type of mowing job you need. For more suppliers of related products, including seeders, hedge trimmers, blowers, or riding mowers, consult our additional guides, or visit the Thomas Supplier Discovery Platform.

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