A mulching lawn mower wee annoying grass cutting practically disappear .

Sachko / Getty Images

mulch lawn mowers can save you time and money by doing two jobs at once : Not only do they cut gage the same way as a traditional lawn lawn mower , they at the same time turn the grass snip into anatural fertilizer . These efficient lawn mower cube the pot clippings into tiny pieces that decompose quickly , furnish worthful nutrients to your lawn . With a mulching mower , grass trimming are no longer an eyesore , and fertilizer demand for grass are cut back , too .

lawn mower mowing up leaves on grass

Credit:Sachko / Getty Images

If you are consider purchase a mulching lawn mower , here ’s everything you need to know about these ready to hand machines .

Types of Lawn Mowers

There are two main types of lawn mower : Rotary and reel . Scottish reel mowers are used almost exclusively by professionals on golf game courses and extremely manicured lawn , while circular mowers provide the cutting power nearly everywhere else . Mulching mowers are a limiting of traditional rotary mowers and are becoming more coarse .

University research found mulching mowers provide only a slight reduction in grass clipping decay time compared to a traditional rotary mower . So you may want to bond with your current machine until it is no longer functional before believe a mulching mower .

How a Mulching Lawn Mower Works

A traditional circular mower — including push , self - impel , and rid varieties — cuts grass and shoots the clip out a side - discharge chute or the back of the mower . A mulching mower captures the grass clippings with the service of a mild vacuum cleaner under the lawn mower pack of cards . The newspaper clipping move around the whirling vane , where they are minced into flyspeck musical composition . Then , the bantam clippings drop onto the lawn below the pack of cards , where they decompose .

Mulching Mower Types

Mulching lawn mower are useable as riding , push , and ego - propelled models . The world power source is an important considerateness , as mulching mowers are available in galvanic or gas models .

galvanizing models can cut down one - third Akko or small lawns on a individual rush . Larger lawns call for a gaseous state model if you want to mow the total lawn at one time . substantial ability is required to mulch locoweed clippings , so the best galvanising mulching mowers have a 40 - volt or large bombardment . Look for a gas mulching mower with a 140 cubic centimetre engine for strong performance .

Tips for Using a Mulching Lawn Mower

skilful mowing practicesmaximize the benefit of a mulching lawn mower . Here are a few things to be aware of when cutting grass and mulch the clip back into the lawn .

Monitor Cutting Height

cut height is important when mop with a mulching mower , just as it is when using a traditional lawn mower . Do n’t expect a mulching mower to cut overly tall grass and then moderate the recollective clippings into mulch . A mulching lawn mower works best when you are abbreviate only 1 or 2 inches off the tiptop of the sens .

Sharpen the Blades Annually

Sharp bladesare responsible for for a clean cut and a neat appearance when the mowing is pure . Sharpen the lawn mower bladeson your mulching mower at least once a season . The blades get a workout hack the clipping multiple multiplication ; they ’ll benefit from veritable sharpening .

Avoid Wet Grass

It ’s always a dear idea toavoid wet grass when mowing , but it ’s especially important with a mulching mower . expect to pout until the grass is good juiceless . Wet grass clumps together as before long as it is cut , and the mulching mower wo n’t be able to chop the clippings as it is designed to do .

Analyze Fertilizer Needs

Fertilizer needsmay decreasewhen you use a mulching mower , especially if you previously pocket and compost clippings and are now recycling them into the lawn . Check your turf ’s factual nourishing needs with a soil test before applying any extra fertilizer ware .

Frequently Asked Questions

mulch clippings and returning them to the lawn is the upright move . The clipping will moulder and add food to the soil .

Thatch is a buildup of numb and live organic matterbetween the top of the soil Earth’s surface and the grass . Gunter Grass clippings rarely give to the Blackbeard stratum because they decompose too quickly to become Edward Teach .

No . The upkeep necessity — yearly oil change , sharpening blades , deck cleaning — are the same for a mulching mower as for a orbitual mower .