Siding discharging your lawn is a great way to spread the clippings around your yard to help your grass stay healthy, and can be done with a variety of mowers including push, self-propelled, and riding mowers.
However, it is important to ensure that the area you wish to side discharge in is large enough, as the clippings need room to fall without blocking other areas of your lawn or clumps of cut grass blocking intersections or walkways.
Additionally, if your lawn is on a slope, siding discharge may not be the best option, as it can be difficult to get the clippings to stay put and can cause soggy patches in areas that receive higher than normal amounts of discharge.
It is also important to consider the length of your grass before you choose to side discharge, as it is not ideal if the grass is too long, as the mowing deck will send large clumps of cut grass which can smother the lawn.
Overall, if you have a large lawn and your grass is kept between 2.5 to 4 inches in length, sidedischarge is a great way to evenly spread grass clippings on your lawn. If done correctly, this can help your lawn retain natural nutrients and makes for good ground cover to prevent soil erosion.
Which is better side or rear discharge mower?
This will depend on the preferences of the mower user. Rear-discharge mowers have the advantage of having the grass clippings spread more evenly across the lawn, resulting in more even distribution of nutrients.
Furthermore, rear-discharge mowers often don’t require a grass bag, which can be a major advantage for those who would rather not deal with the mess of emptying clippings all the time. On the other hand, side-discharge mowers offer more convenience, as they generally require less maintenance than rear-discharge.
In addition, side-discharge mowers often come with a mulching kit that allow users to spread the clippings evenly as they mow.
Ultimately, which option is better will depend on the preferences of the user. Side-discharge mowers are often preferred due to being more convenient, while rear-discharge mowers appeal to those interested in spreading the grass clippings more evenly.
Different mower models will also have pros and cons depending on the terrain and size of the lawn, so it’s important to check both options to see which one is best suited for the job.
What does a side discharge chute do?
A side discharge chute attaches to a lawnmower and directs the clippings away from the area you are mowing. This allows the lawn to be mowed without collecting clippings on the lawn by simply directing the clippings away to the side.
This makes mowing easier and more efficient because you can focus fully on mowing the lawn without having to stop and collect the clippings. The side discharge chute also allows for a cleaner mowing job, as the clippings are distributed in a more even fashion over the general area being mowed, thus avoiding having clippings clumped in one spot.
This is especially beneficial when mowing a field as large clumps of clippings can prove damaging to the field or grass beneath. The side discharge chute can also provide an alternative to bagging clippings or mulching and either of these options can easily be switched to depending on your current mowing needs.
Can you use a lawn mower without the bag or side discharge?
Yes, you can use a lawn mower without the bag or side discharge. You would need to instead use a mulching blade, or in some cases, a special mulching blade adapter that fits onto the cutting deck to push clippings back into the lawn and mow grass more finely into small particles.
This is typically less messy than normally discharging the clippings, as the pieces are more finely mulched and less likely to accumulate on lawn surfaces. However, during the process, some clippings may still get ejected out of the mower, so it is important to be sure to wear long-sleeved clothing and safety glasses to protect yourself from clippings coming into contact with your skin or eyes.
The mulching may also require an additional pass over the lawn after the initial mow to further mulch the clippings and the lawn. Also, the lawn mower should be emptied regularly in order to prevent excessive clippings from accumulating and clogging the mower.
Can I mow without a chute?
No, it is not recommended to mow without a chute. The chute on a mower is designed to safely direct grass and debris away from the operator while mowing. Without a chute, loose clippings and other debris could become airborne and hit the operator in the face or eyes or ricochet off nearby objects, potentially causing serious injury.
Additionally, the blade can throw pieces of grass and rocks at extremely high speeds, making operator safety even more important. For these reasons, it is strongly recommended that mowers always be used with the chute attached and undamaged.
Does a mower need a bag?
Whether or not a mower needs a bag is largely dependent on the type of mower being used and the type of terrain it is being used in. For example, a rear engine riding mower may not need a bag, but push mowers or riding mowers with side discharge chutes will likely need a bag if you want to collect the grass clippings.
Usually, a bag is beneficial for collecting grass clippings and debris as you are mowing, without having to stop and rake afterward. Additionally, if you are mowing a sloped region with a riding mower, a bag can prevent grass from clogging underneath the mower.
Even if a bag is not needed, the option to use one may be beneficial in certain scenarios.
How do I mow my lawn with a side discharge?
Mowing your lawn with a side discharge is a simple task, but there are a few basic steps to follow to ensure a professional-looking finish. Firstly, ensure that your mower is in good working condition and well-maintained before you start mowing.
This will include checking the oil, air filter, and spark plug, and sharpening the blades if necessary. Secondly, position the mower so the side-discharge chute is pointing away from the area you are mowing and the front of the mower is pointing forward.
Thirdly, select a cutting height that is suitable for your grass type – generally, a cutting height of 2.5-4 inches is recommended. Fourthly, make sure that the grass is cut in a regular, uniform pattern by mowing in straight lines.
For best results, mow in a rotary pattern; this will ensure even grass distribution. Lastly, ensure that you rake any clippings that have been discharged from the mower’s side-discharge chute; this will help prevent unwanted clumping and raise the overall health of the lawn.
Can I use mulching blades with side discharge?
Yes, you can use mulching blades with side discharge. Mulching blades are specially designed to cut grass into fine pieces and deposit them back into the lawn. With a side discharge, the clippings can be directed away from the lawn and into a collection bag, providing a neat and tidy look.
The mulching blades are ideal for small to medium-sized yards with a light to moderate amount of grass. When using a side discharge, it is important to make sure the collection bag is large enough to contain all of the clippings.
It is also important to remember that the mulching blades provide a cleaner approach compared to regular mowing blades as they do not leave clumps of clippings on the lawn. Additionally, mulching blades help to provide essential nutrients to the lawn, encouraging strong and healthy growth.
Should you mulch every time you mow?
Mulching a lawn is a great way to improve its overall health and appearance. It prevents weeds from taking over and keeps the grass looking neat and green. As a result, mulching every time you mow can be beneficial, but it’s not always necessary.
Most lawns need mowing once per week during the growing season, which is usually when mulching should be done. In addition to regular mowing, mulching also helps provide fertility to the soil. It can help fertilizer penetrate the roots of grass easier, which helps the grass to stay healthy and vibrant.
However, there are times when mulching isn’t necessary or beneficial. In areas where grass doesn’t grow as well or where the lawn is thin, mulching can actually create too much thatch, which can suffocate the grass.
Dry weather also makes mulching unproductive. If the lawn is dry and hard, mowing without mulching is best.
Ultimately, if possible, it’s best to mulch every time you mow. But if your lawn is thin or conditions are too dry to mulch, then it’s OK to simply mow. Regular mowing can still help keep your lawn healthy, green, and well-maintained.
Are mulching blades with teeth better?
Whether or not mulching blades with teeth are better depends on the task at hand and the specific characteristics of the blade and what you are trying to accomplish. Teeth on a mulching blade can help the grass clippings stay suspended in the air longer, making them more evenly mulched as they are passed through the deck.
This is especially helpful when you’re dealing with thicker grass types, as the teeth help break up and chop the clippings up into more manageable sizes. It’s also worth noting that because teeth give off more lift, they do require more power to operate, which can be detrimental to electric lawn mower models.
Therefore, it’s not an ideal choice for electric powered mowers, since they aren’t as powerful. On the other hand, if you have a gas-powered mower, or are looking for an even mulch, then blades with teeth may be a better option.
Ultimately, it depends on your specific circumstances, lawn size and mower type to determine which blade is the better choice for your lawn care needs.
When should I use mulching blades?
Mulching blades should be used when you want to finely chop leaves, grass clippings, and other lawn debris into tiny pieces to be left on the lawn as a fertilizer and to help retain moisture. When mulching blades are used, they reduce lawn waste by up to 25% or more, because they allow you to leave the finely chopped pieces of lawn debris to slowly decompose, rather than it being picked up and removed.
Mulching blades should be used when you want to provide extra nutrients to the soil and help to manage cold temperatures better in the winter. Additionally, using mulching blades often leads to fewer weed problems, since weeds will have difficulty germinating in soil that is covered with finely chopped debris.
To use mulching blades, it is important that you have a reliable mower with a good engine and solid blades. Additionally, for the best results, make sure your blades are sharp, as this will ensure a more aggressive cutting performance.
Can you put a mulching blade on a non mulching mower?
Yes, it is possible to put a mulching blade on a non-mulching mower. This is typically done by replacing the standard mower blade with a mulching blade. Different types of mulching blades vary in shape and design, and can usually be identified easily by their special mulching features.
Generally, they are designed with additional cutting surfaces which chop the grass clippings into smaller sizes as they are cut, allowing them to remain on the lawn and act as a natural fertilizer while also reducing the amount of grass clippings that need to be collected and disposed of.
Some mowers require an additional deck cover attachment to help contain the clippings and ensure that the clippings remain on the lawn. Additionally, there may be some models of mowers which come with mulching kits that can help to convert a non-mulching mower into a mulching one.
It’s important to always remember to check the manual or contact the manufacturer to verify that the mulching blade is compatible with the mower you have.
Is there a difference between mulching blades and regular?
Yes, there is a difference between mulching blades and regular blades. Mulching blades have a specific angled, curved design which helps to pulverize grass clippings, creating a finer particle which then breaks down quickly into the soil.
Regular blades count generally have a more straight-edged design and are better suited for cutting blades of grass but they do not break the grass clippings down into smaller pieces. Additionally, mulching blades are typically more durable and are more efficient than regular blades.
