Do I Have To Remove Mulch Cover To Clean Under Mower Deck

senior man on a riding lawn mower mulching up leaves while cutting the grass

Are you lot perplexed by the many dissimilar lawn mowers on the market? Mulching lawn mowers are a popular option for homeowners today because they offer multiple ways to get rid of your grass clippings.

What is a mulching lawn mower?

A mulching mower is a machine where the blade and mowing deck are designed to chop the grass multiple times before the cut grass goes dorsum into the lawn. Side discharge mowers straight the grass to the side, and using a bag attachment directs the grass clippings into the pocketbook.

Amongst these three types of mowers, only the mulching mower leaves you with finely cutting grass cuttings, which provide fertilizer and shade for the soil. You may hear this kind of mowing called "mulch mowing."

How does a mulching mower piece of work?

Mulching mowers aren't different from other mowers in almost ways. In all lawn mowers (button mowers, ride-on, etc.), yous need lift so the grass stays vertical while the mower bract cuts.

Mulching mowers non only create a stream of air that directs the grass up into the mower blades, but once the grass is cut, the clippings hit the blade multiple times earlier they go back onto the lawn. This is in contrast to other mowers which directly the clippings out the side or into a pocketbook.

This is past design, of form. Mulching blades use curved edges to generate this extra cutting activity and generally accept more surface surface area devoted to cut.

Mulching blades are sometimes chosen "all purpose" or "iii-in-1" blades considering y'all can apply them to mulch, bag, or side discharge. Standard blades are called ii-in-ane blades because you can use them to either bag or side discharge the grass.

Tin can I use my electric current mower to recycle my grass clippings?

Yes. Contact your local lawn mower retailer (or your mower manufacturer) to inquire if you need a conversion kit. These mulching kits may include a plate (AKA mulching plug) to close your belch opening (or bag opening) and a new bract. Or, you may merely demand a new blade.

Both push and ride-on mowers can recycle grass clippings back into the lawn. Shut your discharge chute or remove the handbag and voilà. However, a mulching mower blade does a amend job considering the pieces are smaller and will break down more quickly in the lawn.

How to use a mulching mower

In short, use it just equally you lot would any other mower. Here are a few lawn care tips to make sure your mulching mowing sessions are a success:

Don't mow when information technology's wet. The mower might not exist able to cut the grass blades as finely due to the extra weight and tendency to clump. Also, the underside of your lawn mower will be covered in wet grass.

Mow oft. Follow the gilded rule of mowing: Remove no more than one-tertiary of the grass blade per mow.

Mow at the right height. Believe it or not, this simple advice makes a large difference in your lawn. Each grass type performs all-time when cut at a sure meridian. (There are many soil and grass scientists who devote lots of fourth dimension and energy at grass test plots to figure this out.)

The seasons too tin brand a difference in your mowing elevation. Some advise that y'all should mow a half inch taller during the hottest part of the twelvemonth and mow slightly shorter for the first and last cuts of the season. (Where it snows, it may be appropriate to mow equally low as possible on the terminal mow to foreclose snow mold.)

Ask your local Cooperative Extension office for the all-time seasonal advice.

Consider your lawn density. A dense lawn may put extra strain on your mower. When y'all're buying a lawn mower, purchase one that has sufficient ability for your needs. Don't skimp in this area — you'll regret it.

Maintain a precipitous bract. A precipitous mower blade is a must. A sharp mower blade gives you a clean cut instead of a torn one, which can invite disease into your lawn. Employ a file, a paw grinder, a bench grinder, or a sharpening rock attachment on your cordless drill to sharpen the blade.

illustration depicting the grass cut with a sharp blade vs a dull blade

How often should you sharpen your mower blade? Information technology depends on the type of grass you lot take, how often you mow, and the density of your lawn. Here'south an like shooting fish in a barrel exam: If you look at the tip of the grass blade and it looks torn instead of cleanly cut, it's time. If y'all have a dense backyard with stiff-bladed grass like Zoysia, you may need to sharpen your bract as often as one time per calendar month.

Keep the deck clean. Hose off the clippings underneath the deck at the end of each mowing session. A buildup of gunk on the underside of the deck may prevent the clippings from circulating besides every bit they should.

Mulching matters

Y'all may wonder, "So, what's the large deal near whether I mulch grass or not?" Well, mulched clippings not just contribute to a healthy lawn but help out your local environment likewise.

Cities are jumping on the bandwagon because, for one reason, grass clippings produce a lot of waste material. According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Ecology Protection, a half acre lawn can generate "260 numberless of grass clippings" in a unmarried twelvemonth — that's more than 3 tons!

As you tin run into, information technology'due south too in their best interest to educate homeowners on the benefits of recycling their grass clippings dorsum into the lawn and reduce the landfill waste in their city.

To sum it all up, mulching, sometimes called "grasscycling" has many benefits:

Saves time (no more than raking fall leaves)
Saves money (free fertilizer, no garbage fees)
Helps protect the environs (no grass clippings in streams or landfills)
Reduces erosion (helps keep the soil in place)

FAQ

1. Are in that location any times I should not mulch in my clippings?

Aye, there are instances when it's best not to mulch your grass clippings back into the backyard.

—When you lot have a fungus : If you lot're trying to recover from a fungus on your grass, don't mulch in these backyard clippings. That would just spread the disease further across your lawn.
—If you accept weeds that are going to seed : Information technology's a expert thought to purse in this instance and put the clippings in your k waste bin. You don't want to help your weeds redistribute their seeds for next season.
—If you have also many leaves on the lawn: If you have over l% leaf coverage, you may want to bag as you mow. Too much leaf litter and grass mulched into the backyard at 1 time can impairment the grass. Afterward, add the mulched leaves/grass mix to the compost bin, or utilise the mix as wintertime protection for your flower beds.

two. Other benefits of using a mulching mower:

—No cumbersome handbag to deal with on the lawn mower
—No concerns virtually how to dispose of your grass clippings
—Fertilize and mow at the aforementioned time
—Avoid putting valuable nutrients and moisture into the landfill

3. Will the clippings contribute to the thatch in my backyard?

The brusque answer is no, cut grass clippings do not contribute to thatch in your lawn. Thatch is a layer of organic matter (living and expressionless) that accumulates between living, growing vegetation (grass) and the soil.

Every bit long as the thatch is less than most a one-half inch, your lawn is fine. If it gets to a higher place that level, depending on your grass type, you lot may want to consider dethatching or aerating (which will inevitably remove some of the thatch). (Notation: Aeration is when y'all pull plugs from the soil to assist air, h2o, and nutrients broadcast better throughout. This helps roots abound deeper and stronger, and you have a greener, healthier lawn as a result.)

If you lot'd savour having someone else mow and fertilize your lawn (with your grass clippings or with store-bought fertilizer), contact one of our local lawn intendance pros . They'll get your lawn on the path to a greener, fuller future.

Main Photo Credit: PublicDomainPictures.net

Sarah is a writer who has previously worked in the lawn care industry. In her spare fourth dimension, she likes to garden, raise chickens, and mow the grass with her battery-powered lawn mower.