What is mower mulching. What Is A Mulching Lawnmower? The Complete Guide

What Is A Mulching Lawnmower? The Complete Guide

Lawnmowers come in different shapes and designs. And depending on the brand of mower you would like to buy, there are more than a dozen of them in the market. Take, for example, Husqvarna, Efco, Toro, John Deere, and Honda, the best brands always compete for market dominance. It could be that manufacturers are trying to make a lasting impression but you can always be the judge. Most importantly, we recommend carefully weighing out available options before settling on the best mower for the money. In this post, our FOCUS is mulching lawnmowers, and with that, the first question that comes to mind is, what are they?

What is a mulching lawnmower?

A Mulching mower is a lawnmower that cut the grass in very small clippings with its special mulching blades. The clippings will dry up very quickly and disappear in the cut grass. This means that you do not need to remove the cut grass after mowing.

Mulching lawnmowers have been around for many years. However, sometimes recognizing them from a distance means you have to narrow them down to specific features then compare them with your regular mower. You should not ignore the fact that a mulching mower could be a hybrid machine, combining different blade alignments. The most notable fitting on mulching mowers is that they have different blades, usually improvised from those in regular mowers. The blade is modified in such a way that as it cuts grass, there is airflow, making it possible to further shred grass into minuscule pieces as they fall back on the deck.

The deck creates a vacuum when cutting grass, forcing clippings to the roots of the turf. Thus, to realize the best mulching outcome with these machines, professional lawn caregivers recommend cutting grass about the three-quarter length of grass blades. You will also note that decks on mulching mowers are different from those you find in regular variants. They are round and sealed, purposely to create an airflow that makes it possible to recycle grass for re-cutting.

Now, onto the advantages of mulching turf mowers, we did some homework and found out the following:

Nourishment for your turf

Every homeowner would love to enjoy a view of a lush green and healthier lawn, hence the need for a dedicated mulching turf mower. After cutting and re-cutting grass, you don’t dispose of the clippings; rather, add them to the soil on which grass grows. Mulching is definitively a practice where one spreads dead organic matter such as leaves, grass, and wood chippings on the soil surface. In the end, dead organic matter rots and mix with the soil, providing plants (grass in this case) with more nutrients.

Helps conserve soil moisture

Another benefit that comes with owning mulching lawnmowers is that it helps conserve soil moisture, thanks to recycled grass clippings. While you will often cut overgrown grass during spring, rest assured that discharging them to the bottom of grass blades prevents evaporation of soil moisture during summer. And during winter, mowing grass using mulching lawnmowers will create a warm effect on the soil, keeping away frost most of the days.

Saves time and money

Most people now buy mulching lawnmowers because they are cost-effective. You save time and money with these machines. The fact that you will not stop midway during a mowing session to empty a collecting bag is a reprieve to those who say regular mowers waste time. And when it comes to saving money, you will not need to buy organic fertilizers for your lawns. As soon as the grass clippings rot, they become a rich source of nitrogen. It also means you will not dispose of grass at a landfill, saving more space for garbage. After all, who wouldn’t want to cut costs that come with disposing waste? Well, we guess everyone!

Clean and attractive lawns

With conventional mowers, especially those that discharge grass clippings sideways onto the lawn, you have a lot of work to do at the end of the mowing day. And while those that discharge clippings upwards then onto collection bag may do a neat job, mulching mowers are the best. It is the ultimate choice for homesteaders looking to mow and never worry about grass clippings scattered everywhere. They cut grass into tiny pieces then dump them at the grassroots.

During spring, when the grass is lush green and thick, you may want to collect clippings for mulching in your garden. With that comes another concern about versatility. Can you convert the mower into one with a bag, making it possible to collect cut grass? These questions are debatable but when it comes to choosing a good mulching mower for the money, how convertible your selection often plays significance.

Quality of construction:

Quality plays a significant role when it comes to making purchase decisions. And because most people believe that cheap is expensive, costly mulching mowers are a bit swaying. However, that should not mean anything affordable is bad equipment. Most importantly, buying a strong machine; hence durable should be your top priority. So, let’s put it that you get what your money can afford. If you pay for a cheap mower, you should expect to have quality issues.

From our evaluation, after comparing different mulching mowers in the market, strong mulching mowers with highly efficient blades and decks should cost you about 400. However, you can still get a good one for as low as 300. You don’t want to buy a machine that will cause you a lot of stress due to high maintenance costs because it breaks down after a few hours of mowing.

Model/brand:

Depending on your brand loyalty or preference, a notion that some manufacturers produce better mowers does not always sound far-fetched. However, sometimes the brand is just but a name popularized by marketing speak. When you think John Deere’s brand of lawnmowers is the best, it may turn out that Toro has the best collection of mulching mowers for the money. We recommend comparing different models in the market before settling on one that meets your needs.

Budget:

Money is like fire. It can be a good servant and also a bad master. So, when it comes to choosing a good mulching mower among dozen-plus brands in the market, always ask vital questions. For example, will you buy an expensive one because you have money to spend or because it has a lot to offer? Often, more money means many options. However, having extra bucks to spend should not be a recipe for poor decision-making. While costly mulching mowers are likely to be highly accessorized, do not go for something that you do not need just because there is money to spend.

Evaluation of the quality and cost of these machines may not always go together. Some manufacturers, especially those trying to gain a competitive edge in the market may lower the of their lawnmowers. Yet, a closer look at affordable or cheap mowers would reveal they perform optimally well. over, look out for discount coupons when shopping for these machines, especially during this festive season. You could be lucky to land a high-quality mower cheaply.

Product warranty:

Product warranty should protect buyers from incurring maintenance costs should a mower break down. On this premise, find out if a manufacturer of a mulching lawnmower you are about to buy gives a warranty. If yes, how long does it last? The catch here is that the availability of a warranty is one thing, but its validity is another. Do not run the risk of purchasing mowers with a fake irredeemable warranty. You could end up with a machine that is impossible to repair should it develop a technical hitch.

User ratings/reviews:

To crown it all, buying a lawnmower online should be easy, especially if you take a closer look at buyer reviews and ratings. On leading e-Commerce platforms like Amazon and e-Bay where purchases get verified, ratings and reviews reflect a true picture of a product. In the case of mulching mowers, you should find answers to some vital questions. They often shed light on essential features.

The 3 Best Mulching Lawnmowers in the Market

With tips on how to choose the best lawnmower at your fingertips, the next thing is walking straight into a farm store to buy a befitting one. But for someone who likes to have his or her purchases delivered at home, e-Commerce stores are undoubtedly convenient shopping platforms. But wait! Do you have a brand in mind or any brand of a mulching mower is okay?

Well, even with handy shopping tips, having many options from which to pick the best mower presents a hard tackle in the eleventh hour. You could end up buying a John Deere instead of a BLACKDECKER. Thus, to make it easy for you, we sampled some of the best mulching lawnmowers. Take a look.

Honda HRX537VY Rotary Mower:

While Honda mowers are quite costly, they are tested and proven to work efficiently. With Honda mulching lawnmower model HRX537VY, you get more power in a machine that utilizes petrol for propulsion. It is strong hence durable, not to mention ergonomic fittings that make it one of the handiest mowers in the market. Whether you would like to mow at a high or low speed, Honda HRX537VY features a Smart drive system that makes it possible. All over the world, it enjoys a good reputation with most people giving it a nod of approval. Some of the most talked-about features in the HRX series are their quiet operation, mileage, engine power, strong cutting decks, 7 years warranty, and reliability.

Toro 29732 Self-Propelled Recycler Mower with Steel Deck:

First off, you should note that steel decks offer more durability and stability. It is what you get with Toro 29732 mulching mower. It is a walk-behind mower, ideal for small backyards. over, three cutting modes namely mulching, side discharging, and collection mean it is a highly convertible/versatile mower.

A grass-cutting width of 53cm is good enough for a day’s work, not to mention its adjustable turf-cutting conditions. For example, you can set the cutting height at 95mm or 32cm. The three cutting modes help eliminate clogging of grass clippings under the deck. With an engine rating of 163cc (BriggsStratton 655 series), a four-stroke cycle is good enough for medium-sized lawns. It is lightweight, weighing only 30kgs, hence highly mobile.

Husqvarna Mulching Mower-LB553Se:

If you love Husqvarna, the company’s wide range of homesteading machines will never disappoint. For the love of lawn mowing, we settled on Husqvarna LB553Se, a self-propelled mulching mower that delivers excellent performance over an extended period. It saves time and the environment, thanks to its 53cm aluminum cutting deck made of BioClip.

Husqvarna LB553Se ergonomic features an ergonomic design hence comfortable and easy to operate, not to mention its adjustable grass cutting level. An engine capacity of 160cc model GCV160 by Honda means you get more power and steady power with this mower. Because it is lightweight at only 36.7kgs, you should excellent traction on the lawn. It has aluminum wheels that offer extra durability and excellent performance on the go.

With Husqvarna’s range of mowers, you should also expect low-vibration/quiet operation. Our interaction with Husqvarna LB553Se further revealed that it has double ball bearings that ensure the smooth rolling of wheels on lawns. Tires on this machine have high-grip tread and most importantly, replaceable.

Final Thoughts

In the end, everyone deserves a pat on the back for buying the best mulching mower. However, that should only come after understanding how these machines with 3-in-1 blade action work. Whether you are an addict of Husqvarna or Honda, the benefits of grass recycling mowers are replicated across the board. Also taking into consideration tips for choosing the best machine for the money, this post wouldn’t have come at a better time than now. Who would reject a mower that leaves no trace of grass clippings on the lawn? Well, our three picks in this post meet an efficiency threshold you need to do a good job.

What is a mulching lawnmower?

A standard lawnmower keeps your lawn tidy, but what is a mulching lawnmower?

You’ll be familiar with the benefits of the average lawnmower for your garden, but what is a mulching lawnmower? The key difference with a mulching lawnmower is it returns the tiny grass clippings to the ground. The cut grass releases nutrients into the soil and revitalizes your lawn.

Fed up with the hassle of lawn maintenance? A mulching lawnmower is a great choice as it saves you from adding fertilizers to keep the grass green. Even better, minimizing the use of chemicals means you get to do your bit for the environment.

You may still be asking yourself, but what is a mulching lawnmower? Help is at hand, as we’ll ask the experts to walk you through how mulching lawnmowers work, the benefits and the drawbacks. We’ll give you the information you need to decide whether it’s the right choice for you.

What is a mulching lawnmower?

A mulch is a material you add to the soil to give it extra nutrients. You’ll likely have heard about people topping up their flower beds with layers of manure or compost to give plants a boost. Mulching lawnmowers use the same principle so you can reap the benefits of a happy, healthy lawn. Whether you want to use the best electric lawn mowers or the best riding lawn mowers, you can find models that incorporate mulching.

So what is a mulching lawnmower? “A mulching lawnmower is a lawnmower that cuts grass into very fine pieces. They fall easily onto the soil’s surface where they can be rapidly broken down by soil microorganisms. This releases nutrients from the lawn back into the soil,” explains Michael Clarke, founder of Pulled, an online home management platform. As the grass decomposes, it gives new life to the soil and keeps your grass healthy and green.

“This is very different from bagging lawnmowers that collect grass clippings as the lawnmower blade cuts and removes them from the lawn surface,” adds Michael. Unlike traditional lawnmowers, you’re essentially recycling the grass clippings, which is a more sustainable approach.

Benefits of a mulching lawnmower

Your choice of lawnmower will depend on your circumstances. “A mulching lawnmower is useful when mowing large areas of grass when you can’t collect and dispose of the clippings,” says Michael.

Are you relying on chemical products for lawn upkeep? Michael Clarke, founder of Pulled, has this advice: “If you’ve used chemical products and fertilizers on your lawn previously, your grass will grow differently. It won’t decompose the same way that organically grown grass does. This can do more harm than good as it breaks down into the soil when mulched. It’s best to bag these lawn clippings for a period without adding more chemical products before attempting to mulch your grass.”

“Because mulching lawnmowers allow the grass clippings to be utilized by the soil, there is less of a need for nutrients such as nitrogen to be added artificially to the lawn to maintain a healthy appearance,” says Michael. As a result, you’ll cut down on the work needed to keep your lawn a healthy shade of green. This saves time so you can tend to your favorite plants or simply sit back and admire your lawn.

In the summer months, it’s common for lawns to develop unsightly brown patches. A mulching lawnmower may offer a solution. “Mulching can help your lawn retain moisture during the heat of the summer with the mulched clippings acting as a natural barrier from the sun,” says Michael. The layer of grass clippings prevents the sun from penetrating the soil and depriving it of moisture. You’ll spare yourself the hassle of watering the lawn to keep those dry patches at bay.

Mulching lawnmowers are beneficial both for you and the planet. The mulching process replenishes the soil with nutrients. As a result, you won’t need to rely so much on artificial fertilizers and herbicides, which damage the environment. A mulching lawnmower is kind to the planet, which brings a feel-good factor.

Drawbacks of a mulching lawnmower

For all their benefits, there are drawbacks to mulching lawnmowers. “Mulching can be messy, especially if you mow your lawn infrequently and the grass has grown very tall. The green color released from the freshly cut grass blades can stain sidewalks and concrete surfaces,” cautions Michael. While you’ll save time on lawn upkeep, you’ll need to pay attention to lawnmower maintenance and remember to sharpen the blades.

With a mulching lawnmower, the grass is greener, as it releases extra nutrients into your soil. If sustainability is a priority for you, why not give a mulching lawnmower a try?

What is a Mulching Mower? – The Benefits of Using Mulching Mowers

Mulching mowers are the newly popular and sought-after piece of equipment in the lawn and garden industry. So what is a mulching mower? A mulching mower is a machine used for mowing the grass on your lawn. It cuts the fresh and green grass and chops it into tiny pieces. Mulching mowers are specifically designed for this purpose. Lawnmowers mulch all the grass clippings left behind after the blades cut the grass.

A mulching mower is a lawn mower that grinds up grass clippings and leaves as it mows, returning them to the lawn as a natural fertilizer. Mulching mowers are more effective at creating a healthy, green lawn than traditional lawn mowers because a mulcher mower doesn’t remove vital nutrients from the soil.

This helps in keeping the grass healthy since it has the nutrients it requires to grow. It also helps in reducing the work of having to clean up the grass and dispose of it.

Why Do You Need a Mulching Mower?

Removing the extra grass from your lawn will lessen the time needed to maintain your lawn. It also gives the moisture back to the lawn. The mulcher mower is also known as a “recycled lawnmower.” It reduces the amount of garbage and trash that needs to be burned or thrown away.

The tiny chopped grass is left on the lawn to help the lawn grow. The mulching mower is an environmentally friendly machine that helps save the environment. There are many brands of mulching mowers in the market. Some of the well-known brands are the Troy-Bilt, American Lawn Mower, Craftsman, Cub Cadet, and Husqvarna.

Step By Step Guide on How to Mulch Grass With a Lawnmower

If you want a nice, even cut to your grass, you’ll need to mulch the grass. Mulching the grass is a very simple process, and can easily be accomplished with most lawnmowers. Before you start mulching grass with your lawnmower, make sure that you are in a safe environment.

Step 1: Preparing for mulching

If you are going to use a weed mulcher for the first time, it is best to prepare the grass for mowing. If you have a lot of grass to cut, you need to mow the grass shorter. You can mow the grass shorter when you are preparing the grass for mowing. This will make the mulching process easier.

You can use a lawnmower with a blade height of 3 inches or less. If you can’t mow the lawn short, you need to rake the grass. The grass is more likely to clog the mulching mower.

Step 2: Start the grass mulcher

If you are using a mulcher mower for the first time, you need to know how to start the machine. The mulcher mower will run on electricity. You can start the mower by turning the switch on the mower. The switch is usually located at the handle of the mower.

Step 3: Preparing the mulching mower before you mulch

You can attach the grass catcher to the mulcher mower. The grass catcher is attached to the back of the mulcher mower. This will collect the grass that has been mulched. You can attach the grass catcher by placing the catch over the rod of the mower. You can then screw in the grass catcher. Make sure that the catcher is securely fixed to the mower.

Step 4: Mulching the grass

You can now mulch the grass by mowing it. You need to mow the grass in a back and forth pattern. This will help the grass to move towards the mower. You can also mow the grass in a circular pattern. Make sure that you keep the mower blade at a low height. This will help the grass to move towards the mulcher.

Step 5: Disposing of the grass

After you have finished mowing, you need to dispose of the grass. You can dispose of the grass by dumping the grass catcher. You can also dispose of the grass by leaving it on the lawn. The grass will decompose and fertilize the lawn.

When To Mulch Grass?

Most grasses should be mulched before they are dormant (no longer growing) in the fall. If you are growing warm-season grass and you want to establish a new lawn, you should mulch the grass in the spring when it is green (not brown).

The Benefits of Using Mulching Mowers

The following is a list of the advantages of using a mulching mower.

• Fertilizer: The mulching mower has the ability to turn grass clippings into fertilizer for the lawn. When the grass clippings are cut and thrown back on the lawn, the fertilizer is absorbed by the lawn and used as nourishment. This results in a healthier and greener yard.
• No Disposal Hassles: Bagging your yard clippings is time-consuming and annoying. It can also be a huge hassle to dispose of the bagged clippings. The mulching mower will take the place of the bag. You will not have to worry about bagging up your clippings anymore. The mulching mower will shred the clippings and make them virtually disappear.
• No Grass Clump: Mulching mowers are designed to cut grass into small pieces. This prevents individual clumps of grass from forming in the lawn. Grass clumps are unattractive and can be easily avoided with a mulching mower.
• Cost Savings: The mulching mower has the ability to reduce the number of times you have to mow your lawn. This means that you will spend less money on gas, oil, and maintenance on your mower. You will also spend less on bags and gloves.
• No Raking: A side benefit of using a mulching mower is that you will not have to rake the clippings in the fall. This will save you time and energy and will help you conserve the natural resources of this world.
• Less Work: The mulching mower is designed to do all of the hard work for you. It is a self-propelled machine that will cut and shred the grass clippings into fine pieces. This will allow you to sit back and relax as your mower does all of the work for you.

Final Cut

Mulching mowers are designed to cut and shred clippings into fine pieces that are left on the lawn. They are designed to reduce the burden of bagging and contain a discharge bag as well. Mulching mowers are perfect for those who are environmentally friendly and want to do their part in conserving the natural resources of this world.

What’s A Mulching Lawn Mower?

Mulching lawn mowers have long been a popular choice for gardeners keen to maintain and encourage a green, healthy lawn. The mulching process helps to improve the texture of the soil, conserve soil moisture, help to prevent the growth of weeds and help to reduce potential diseases to the grass. However, the UK climate isn’t suitable for mulching all year round, so it is important to understand what mulching is and how to choose a suitable mulching lawn mower for your gardening requirements.

What is mulching?

Mulch is a layer of material that is spread over the surface of the soil, designed to improve the fertility and health of the soil, enhancing the visual appeal of the lawn whilst also reducing the appearance of weeds.

The process of mulching refers to the fine, double cutting of grass. These fine grass clippings are then dispersed and spread back over the lawn, rather than being collected in a separate grass bag to then be disposed off separately, as occurs with cylinder or rear discharge rotary lawnmowers.

Mulching is most effective during drier periods, typically spring and summer in the UK. When decomposition is slow, typically at the beginning and end of the growing season, mulching is less effective and therefore it is recommended to remove the clippings from the lawn.

Are mulching lawn mowers good for the lawn?

Mulching has many benefits, namely for the gardener, the lawn and the environment.

For gardeners, mulching helps to cut down on the grass cutting time. This is primarily because you do not need to collect and dispose of the grass cuttings, as they are spread over the lawn. For large lawns, collecting and disposing of the grass cuttings can be a tiresome and time consuming task, even if you have a compost heap.

Mulching lawn mowers have many benefits for your lawn, primarily as mulching helps lawns to conserve moisture as the mulch layer helps to reduce evaporation from the soil surface. Additionally, the mulch layer of grass itself is predominantly water. When this mulch layer starts to decompose, the clippings will return the moisture, nitrogen and nutrients to the soil beneath it.

The benefits of conserved moisture include but are not limited to:

• Healthier lawns as a result of the grass roots receiving nutrients and greater moisture.
• visually appealing, greener grass.
• Reduced need to water your lawn, saving time and precious water.
• Helps to prevent the growth of weeds and reduces the risk of diseases to the grass.

As mulching helps to retain and conserve moisture within your soil, it is a near essential gardening tip for UK lawns, especially when many areas of the country are hit with hosepipe bans or water preservation notices. Additionally, many households do not have access to a compost heap or garden waste recycling bin, and therefore grass cuttings often end up in a non-recycling general waste bin in a black liner. Therefore, if the grass cuttings can be repurposed as mulch on the lawn, there can be significant environmental benefits compared to collecting and disposing of the cuttings.

However, a layer of mulch can lead to detrimental effects for your lawn in wet periods such as the autumn or winter. An overly damp soil can lead to a weed problem, and will exacerbate an existing worm problem as the grass clipping mulch will prove popular for worms and in certain instances, even moles.

There are situations where it is not recommended. These include:

• If there is a fungus or disease in your lawn, do not mulch. This will only serve to spread the disease further around your grass.
• Leaves and mulch do not necessarily combine to make a good combination. If there is a dominant leaf coverage, do not mulch the lawn as this can damage the grass.
• If your lawn has weeds that are going to seed, do not mulch, as this will help to redistribute the weed seeds.

Choosing a suitable mulching lawn mower

When purchasing a mower from a lawn mower shop like Horace Fuller, often you will have to weigh up the pros and cons of mulching, side discharge and bagging mowers.

There are many similarities between the main types of lawn mower available. Namely, a stream of air is directed at the grass to ensure the grass is vertical while the lawn mower blade cuts. Then, what happens to the cuttings is rather different.

Side discharge mowers are designed to deposit the cut grass to the side, whilst bagging mowers collect the grass cuttings into an easily-detachable bag that can then be disposed of. Mulching mowers will direct the grass cuttings through the blades multiple times, before depositing the finely-chopped cuttings back onto the lawn. Mulching blades have curved edges and generally have a greater cutting surface area compared to standard blades.

Through the use of a mulching plug or mulching plate, even dedicated side-discharge garden tractors can be used for mulching with excellent results.

However, modern petrol rotary lawn mowers that offer mulching capabilities through the use of an attachment such as a mulching plug or plate are not as effective as a full-time dedicated mulching lawn mower, as in some instances the grass will not be cut using the double cut method.

Many petrol lawn mowers available today offer up to ‘4 in 1’ capabilities, offering not only the ability to mulch, but also to collect, side discharge or rear discharge the grass. For gardeners seeking an excellent value for money and well rounded lawn mower, these are a great solution.

FAQs

Can any lawn mower be used for mulching?

Both ride-on mowers and push mowers can be used for mulching, although lawn mowers not initially designed for mulching will require a mulching conversion kit, which typically requires a plate (sometimes known as a mulching plug) and a new mulching blade.

Do you need a specific mulching blade?

In theory, even a normal blade can be used for mulching if you are able to close the discharge chute or remove the bag. However, a normal blade will not return the same results as a specifically designed mulching blade as the grass cuttings will not be as fine, meaning the cuttings take longer to break down and release their nutrients, nitrogen and moisture into the soil.

What is a mulching plug?

A mulching plug is a lawn mower attachment that is used to close the discharge opening of a side or rear discharge lawn mower, so that it can be used for mulching.

Can I mow the lawn when it is wet?

Aside from any safety concerns, it isn’t recommended to mow the lawn when wet; especially when using a mulching lawn mower. This is because the wet grass will clump, and the blade will struggle to cut the grass cuttings as finely compared to a dry lawn.

We hope you have found our ‘What’s a mulching lawn mower’ article interesting, and hopefully now know how and why they are in many cases a useful addition to homeowners gardens.

If you are interested in any acquiring one of these machines yourself, take a look at some of our mulching lawn tractors here.

As an official garden machinery supplier of various brand manufacturers, we also have a wide array of other products available.