Mulching Mower Blades

Mulching mower 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.

Can you put mulching blades on any mower?

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 with teeth better?

Using a toothed blade solely for mulching purposes may not be ideal since some toothed blades do not have the extended cutting edge. For a lawn care professional looking to cover all the bases, toothed blades are the way to go.

What is the difference between a mulching blade and a regular lawn mower blade?

Unlike regular side-discharge lawn mowers, a mulching blade is designed to cut grass clippings into finer pieces so they can be mulched back into your yard. They generally feature a more curved style and frequently include extra cutting surfaces along the blade edges.

Do you have to mow slower when mulching?

Maintain a slower than normal ground speed. This will allow the grass clippings more time to be effectively mulched. Don't mow or mulch a wet lawn. Grass has a high amount of water content.

How often should mulching blades be sharpened?

In general, sharpen twice per season or after 25 hours of use to keep your blades in good shape. Also, sharpen the blades after hitting rocks. Stone can easily dent or nick the blades. The lawn itself can also hint when you need to sharpen your mower blades.

Can you bag grass with a mulching blade?

Depending on whether you're using a walk-behind mower or a lawn tractor, using a mulching blade for bagging is not the best idea. A bagging blade has a bend or wing at the back to create more airflow to send the grass to the bag.

Can you 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.

Do I need a mulching kit or just blades?

If you want to mulch your clippings, use a mulching blade. Just don't let your lawn get too overgrown. Manage to do that and it'll do an adequate job of bagging and discharging too. But if you've got no interest in mulching and want to bag or discharge your clippings every time, go with a regular blade.

Are Gator blades better than regular mulching blades?

Unlike other mulching blades that push the grass down, the high lift on a gator blade draws the grass up which in turn gives you a clean, even cut. This high lift also makes using Gator Blades in bagging operations a great choice.

How often should you replace mulching blades?

Your thinking might be that if you're going to spend time taking blades off your mower and putting them back on, why not put on blades that will last? If you choose to follow that route, be sure to replace your blades on the same schedule you would sharpen them. Every 25 hours of use is still an excellent guideline.

How do you sharpen a mulching blade on a lawn mower?

But this is not always the case so check manufacturer information for the exact angle. You make

Should you mulch every time you mow?

When and How Often Should You Mulch? We recommend that you have your yard mulched at least once a year. To take full advantage of the many benefits it can offer to the soil, some people like to mulch twice a year. While there is nothing wrong with this, it does require more effort and expense.

Why does my lawn mower leave a strip of grass?

Dull or Damaged Blades Rows or streaks of uncut grass in your lawn may be the result of your lawnmower's cutting blades being dull or otherwise damaged. Dull blades are the result of normal wear and tear from mowing. The blades can be sharpened with a bench grinder by you or a professional.

How do you tell if mulching blades are upside down?

If on the right side, move the blade in a counterclockwise direction, and if on the left side, move it in a clockwise direction.) When doing this, this sharp edge of the blade should be the edge that leads. If it does, then you have the correct lawn mower blade position. If not, you need to flip it over.

What is a major downside to mulching?

Although using mulch has many benefits, it cal also be detrimental to the garden in mainly two ways: Overmulching can bury and suffocate plants. Mulch provides a convenient hiding place for pests. Bake your plants with excess heat if don incorrectly.

When should you not mulch?

In general, mid- to late spring is mulching season-that's when the soil is warming up from the freezing temperatures it experienced all winter. Doing it too early will slow down the warming process, which the soil needs to do its job. Morrell also warns against mulching late in the fall.

Is it OK to leave mulched grass on lawn?

It's a question we all face when mowing the grass: Should I bag my clippings or leave them on the lawn? In most cases, the answer is easy. Recycle the grass clippings by leaving them on the lawn. Doing so will not only save you time and energy, but will also return valuable nutrients to the lawn.

What angle should a mulching blade be?

Gator Mulching Blades We have found that, due to a slight tilt forward along the cutting edge, the 35 degree setting is best to keep the factory edge on most Gator blades. We have found that most Ferris blades also have a slight tilt forward and work best with the 35 degree setting as well.

What is the proper mulching technique?

Fine mulches, such as composed materials, should be applied in a 2–3 inch layer and coarse mulches, such as arborist wood chips, should be applied in a 3–4 inch layer. Apply mulch near, but not touching, the trunk and extend to the drip line, if practical.