Can you use mulching blades with a bagger?
Can you use mulching blades with a bagger? This is determined by whether you’re using a lawn tractor or a walk-behind mower. In any case, using mulching blades with a bagger is a bad idea. Keep the bag filling to a minimum if you’re going to try it.
Can You mulch without a mulching blade?
You can still obtain good mulching results without using a mulching blade if you block the funnel. This can happen if you have a plate or cover that can be used to close the discharge chute. However, keep in mind that in this case, the grass is more prone to become entangled beneath the deck.
What is the purpose of a mulching blade?
The purpose of a mulching blade isn’t to cut and get the clippings out as quickly as possible. They are designed to create greater circulation in the deck to put clippings through the cutting cycle several times to ensure that they finish up as mulch (very fine clippings).
What are the pros and cons of mulching blades?
Pros of Mulching Blades 1 3-in-1 Functionality. As we’ve already touched on, mulching blades are capable of mulching, bagging and discharging clippings, meaning you have a lot of versatility in a single blade. 2 Produces Natural Fertilizer. ... 3 Environmentally Friendly Option. ...
What blade is best for bagging grass?
A high-lift blade produces relatively large clippings. Because a high-lift blade moves clippings out from under the deck efficiently, however, it is the best choice of blade when bagging grass clippings.
Can you use standard blades for bagging?
There aren't many blades on the market specifically designed for bagging. Most of them do more than just bag grass clippings, such as discharge or mulch them at the same time. The best-known bagging blade is referred to as a standard blade or straight-edged 2-in-1.
Can I side discharge with mulching blades?
Mulching blades are sometimes called “all purpose” or “3-in-1” blades because you can use them to mulch, bag, or side discharge. Standard blades are called 2-in-1 blades because you can use them to either bag or side discharge the grass.
Is it better to bag or mulch lawn clippings?
The verdict is in from gardeners, environmentalists, and scientists: Don't bag your grass clippings. Let them mulch your yard. Your lawn and the environment will both be happier for it. In the not-too-distant past, the standard advice was the opposite.
Do I need high lift blades for bagger?
High lift blades are known for bagging and discharging clippings more effectively due to the extra airflow they create, and they also help you to get a more level cut a lot of the time.
Why does my mulching mower leave clumps of grass?
1 – It's too wet Heavy mowers will start to sink into the grass and whip up moisture as they cut your grass, which causes grass to clump in matted wet wads that clog the deck of your mower and its catcher.
Which is better mulching or side discharge?
If you're mowing large, open areas, where you can direct cut grass back onto your lawn as fertilizer, side discharge is the best choice for lawn health. Mulching mowers are more specialized and typically work more slowly and yield less pristine cuts than side discharge.
Can you use mulching blades on a non mulching deck?
Yes, you can put a mulching blade on almost any mower. To put a mulching blade on a mower, the blade needs to be able to fit the deck properly and be secured tightly. Not all mowers equipped with a mulching blade will do a good mulching job due to bad deck design, or low-powered engine.
Are mulching blades good for leaves?
Mulching Blades mulch leaves well. If you have a large amount of leaves, the extra teeth on the fins of the blades help to destroy them on every rotation. Saves Time.
When should I use mulching blades?
Mulching blades are an excellent choice for use on lawns that receive a mowing every three to four days. Using mulching blades on overgrown grass can result in clogging under the deck and piles of grass on the cut lawn. Mulching is also an environmentally friendly way to deal with grass clippings.
Whats the difference between mulching blades and regular?
The primary difference between a mulching blade and a regular blade is shape. A mulching blade typically has a more curved profile than a regular blade, and it is also likely to have cutting edges along more of its surface than a regular blade does.
How often should you bag your grass?
The only time it's better to bag grass clippings is when your grass is extremely overgrown, meaning the blades are several inches tall. It's best to still remove only one-third of the grass height per mowing session, gradually reducing the grass to the appropriate height.
Can I bag with mulching blades?
I have a mulching kit (OEM-190-118) that I'm about to install on my MTD YardMachines model 608 21HP 46" but I'm wondering if I can still use my grass catcher from time to time if I want to or if the mulching blades won't provide the air movement needed to blow grass up the chute. Can anyone advise me here? Thanks!
Comments (3)
My multching blades are high lift on my CC (meaning the ends are bent up to life the grass and keep chopping it up. It multches IMO cause you have the exit plugged, if you take the plug out will will shoot it out probably as good as high lift non-multching blades.
Can you still bag with mulching blades?
Yes, mulching blades are often referred to as ‘3 in 1’ blades, in that they are capable of bagging, side discharge, and mulching functionality. Standard blades, by contrast, are ‘2 in 1’ blades – good for bagging and side discharge only. By adding mulching blades or a mulching kit, you are giving your mower one extra function.
How do I mow my lawn with a side discharge?
The trick to mowing with a side discharge mower is to control where the discharged cuttings go. To do this, mow a strip, and then reverse your direction at the end of this strip and mow the next one so that your clippings are deposited in the area that you were mowing before.
Is it better to mulch or side discharge?
That really depends on what you want to do. Side discharge is the fastest option, if you just want to get the mowing done and don’t intend to rake up the cuttings. Mulching, however, is the best option for a healthy lawn.
How do you mow with mulching blades?
Mowing with mulching blades is a piece of cake. You can do bagging or side discharge if you want, but if you want to mulch your grass then you simply mow as normal (perhaps a little bit more slowly, depending on your mower), and let the greatly reduced clippings fall on the ground as you mow.
What is the disadvantage of mulching?
The only disadvantage of mulching comes when you wait too long between mowings. When the grass is too tall from this, then you produce substantially more mulch. This thick cover can keep sunlight from getting to the plants below and also provides a home for insects.
Should you sharpen mulching blades?
Yes. Mulching blades should be sharpened at the same frequency as standard blades. This means that you should sharpen them after every 20 – 25 hours of use. Mulching blades have a longer cutting edge than standard ones, since they do a lot of extra work, so it is vital that you maintain them if you want them to mulch properly.
What does a mulcher attachment do?
A mulching attachment, also known as a mulching kit, is a conversion kit for your push mower or riding mower that allows you to add mulching functionality if your model doesn’t support simply adding the blades. It generally comes with blades and a mulching plate that controls the flow of clippings so that the mulching blades can chop them finely.
Difference Depending Upon the Blade Type
There are two basic types of lawn mower blades which are standard and mulching. The standard blade has further types: hi-lift, low-lift, and medium-lift blades.
Difference by Shape
It’s another major difference that most landscapers understand when they get used to different blades.
Difference by Observing the Mower Vibration
Bagging blades consume more engine power, and your mower vibrates more when it comes to mowing. Where mulching blades consume less energy and result in less vibration as they don’t have to lift and push grass clipping inside the mower bag.
Three Common Questions
Here are some common questions which landscapers ask when it comes to using bagging or mulching blades
What is a mulching blade?
Mulching blades, also known as 3-in-1 blades, can be used to bag, discharge, or mulch grass clippings.
What are the different types of lawn mower blades?
There are two basic types of lawn mower blades – standard blades and mulching blades. Telling them apart is easy when you know how the blades work and what to look for. Standard blades, sometimes referred to as 2-in-1 blades, are designed to cut grass and then either discharge or bag the clippings. Standard and high-lift blades are straight ...
Can you mulch grass with a blade?
Standard blades are the ideal choice when mulching the grass clippings may not be an option. Many professionals prefer to bag the clippings for a cleaner looking lawn. Bagging clippings will also remove leaves and debris from the lawn, leaving behind a well-manicured cut.
Can you mulch under a deck?
Using mulching blades on overgrown grass can result in clogging under the deck and piles of grass on the cut lawn. Mulching is also an environmentally friendly way to deal with grass clippings. Mulched grass clipping and leaves act as a natural fertilizer.
Is there a difference between mulching blades and regular?
Mulching blades will have an extended cutting edge as well as more curvature to the blades, which allow them to be used for mulching, bagging, or simply discharging cut grass. Regular blades can only cut, discharging the clippings out of the side of the mower onto the lawn or into a bag.
How can you tell a mulching blade from a regular blade?
Mulching blades are easy to identify, once you know what to look for. When compared to a standard blade, you will notice that the mulching blade has more edges for finer cutting along the blade length and you will also see that they are more curved than your standard blades.
Can you put mulching blades on a zero turn mower?
Actually, you shouldn’t need to. As long as you can keep the grass leaves below the deck and if the chute close off, then your sero turn mower is already quite capable of mulching for you. If you’d still like to install a mulching blade, then a ‘mulch and click’ mulching kit may be purchased and installed on your zero turn mower.
Can I fit a mulching blade to my mower?
You can add mulching blades to just about any mower out there, all that is required is a mulching conversion kit. These are available for most gas or electric models, just be sure to check with the vendor to ensure that the kit you select is compatible with your specific mower.
Do mulching blades face up or down?
Your blades are actually marked so that you will know at a glance which side needs to be down. Check for either a model number engraved on the blades or the word ‘bottom’. When you install the blade, just make sure that the side with the engraved numbers or the word ‘bottom’ are facing the ground and they will function perfectly.
Can I use mulching blades with side discharge?
Yes, you can. Mulching blades aren’t so very different from your standard blades, with the exception that they have the extra functionality of mulching. They can also be used to discharge or bag the clippings, it’s all up to you.
Which way do mulching blades go on a riding mower?
The side that is labelled ‘bottom’ or which has the model number visible is going to be the side that needs to face down. Check your manual for your riding mower, however, as many riders already have mulching functionality built in. If your does not, then you can easily remedy this with a compatible mulching conversion kit.
What is a Mulching Kit?
A mulching device is essentially a kit for converting your tractor or push mower into a mulcher. By replacing the mower’s standard blades with mulching blades and dispersing them back across the yard with each pass.
How Does a Mulching Kit Works?
Before buying a blade, always do the measurement of the deck. To install a right mulching blade, you need several measurements to choose the right blade.
How to know you are buying a Mulching Lawn Mower?
As mentioned earlier it will be mentioned as 3-in-1 capability mower. They come with a certain mulching blade that is manufactured in a specific way. The mulching blade’s duty is to repeatedly chop the individual grass pieces.
Can you turn any Lawn Mower into A Mulching Lawn Mower?
The good news is that many conventional lawnmowers can be converted into mulching mowers. To achieve the best outcomes, you should typically do the following:
Types of Blades
Standard blades, sometimes referred to as 2-in-1 blades, are designed to cut grass and then discharge or bag the clippings.
How does Mulching Blade work?
You’ll see that the mulching blades are curved, with additional cutting surfaces on the blade edges, if you look closely. The plus plan, which consists of two isolated blades arranged oppositely to advance forward mulching, is used on other blades.
What is the difference between high lift and mulching blades?
Standard blades are also known as “2-in-1” (releasing and bagging) or “high-lift” blades (since they are designed to make a higher-lifting airflow). Mulching blades often feature a bending sort surface and extra cutting surfaces along the blade edges.
What is the purpose of mulching blades?
The purpose of a mulching blade isn’t to cut and get the clippings out as quickly as possible. They are designed to create greater circulation in the deck to put clippings through the cutting cycle several times to ensure that they finish up as mulch (very fine clippings).
What is a mulching blade?
I won’t go into great depth on the advantages of mulching, but obviously a mulching blade is designed to produce this natural fertilizer, and is the only type of blade that can do so. When done right, mulching can greatly benefit the health of your lawn.
Why use regular blades on deck?
As regular blades generate more lift, they can discharge clippings from the deck more effectively, which reduces the likelihood of clogging. This means they’re typically a bit more forgiving should you miss one or two mowing sessions (it happens!) and the grass grows a little longer than it should.
Which is better, mulching blade or regular blade?
The main thing that a regular blade can do better than a mulching blade is in generating lift. Regular blades typically provide “medium lift” (it’s possible to buy high lift blades if you need more), and this is the reason why they’re considered the better option if you’re going to bag your clippings every time.
Do lawn mowers come with regular blades?
Most mowers will come with a regular blade fitted as standard, until you went out and bought a mulching mower. Let’s discuss how mulching blades and regular blades differ.
Can a lawn mower blade dull?
The vacuum that a regular blade generates is great for getting a level cut, but if your lawn has fairly sandy soil, it’s also going to suck that up into the deck, which can really accelerate the wear and tear on your mower. Not only will the blade dull more quickly, but over time it could create holes in your deck too.
Is a mulching blade straight?
It’s almost the opposite with mulching blades. The blade edge is much more curved, making the surface area of the blade much greater. The purpose of a mulching blade isn’t ...
Types of Lawnmower Blades
Before we jump into finding the difference between regular and mulching blades, it won’t be a bad idea to discuss the common lawnmower blade types briefly. It will help you decide better and faster. So, let’s jump into it.
Mulching Blade Vs. Regular Blade: The Key Difference
Mulching blades and regular blades both come with unique benefits. Also, they differ in their shape, design, working procedure, durability, and performance. When deciding between the two lawnmower blade types, you should thoroughly understand their key distinctions.
The Comparison Table
We have talked about the top differences between the standard blade and the mulching blade of a lawnmower. So, it’s time to highlight them in a nutshell for your better understanding.
Pros and Cons of Regular Lawnmower Blades
Before we wrap up the discussion between mulching blades and regular blades, you must consider their benefits and disadvantages. Following its importance, we will present the pros and cons of regular blades at first.
Pros and Cons of Mulching Blades
Now, it’s the turn of the mulching blade to look at its top benefits and disadvantages. It will help you know the usability of this machine better.
Frequently Asked Questions
The enhanced cutting surface and curved edges will cut the grass repeatedly for finer clippings. SO, mulching blades are suitable for providing improved nutrients to the topsoil and grass. So, yes, it makes a difference in your lawn’s health.
Final Words
The comprehensive discussion on mulching blade vs. regular blade suggests no clear winner in this debate. Both blades for lawnmowers are incredibly performance-centric, efficient, and reliable for landscaping tasks. Thus, the decision will depend on your lawn requirements and preference mostly.
