Mulching lawnmowers gain homeowners attention those who are aiming for sustainable yard upkeep. But what defines these units, how exactly do they work and are they the best choice for your landscape? Mulching mowers differ from standard models in their ability to cut grass clippings into ultra-fine pieces and circulate them back into your lawn. Rather than collecting trimmings in a bag or leaving longer strands strewn about, dedicated mulching mowers pulverize cuttings into tiny particles. Then they filter them down through the deck into turfgrass. The results as a natural fertilizer as it decomposes.
Advanced blade and deck designs facilitate this re-cutting and feeding process. Blades typically have more teeth and sharper angles with the deck featuring baffles keeping clippings suspended for proper chopping. This pulverizes grass consistently while preventing annoying side discharge. Powerful motors and impellers also help recirculate the microscopic mulch pieces back to your soil level. No grass catcher bags required.
Benefits of mulching mowers
Converting grass to nourishing lawn mulch right inside a mower deck provides multiple upsides:
- Natural fertilization – Breaking down blades and stems nourishes lawns with nitrogen, potassium and other nutrients critical for revitalizing root systems and spurring growth. Less reliance on chemical fertilizers.
- Moisture retention – Mulch blanket effect helps grass retain water longer while protecting topsoil. Minimizes drought stress.
- Less mess & labor – No raking, sweeping or bags to handle. Mulch disappears down into your lawn soon after mowing.
- Soil building – Over time, continual mulch deposits help aerate earth, minimize compaction and enrich natural composition.
When weighing pros and cons of purchasing dedicated mulching equipment, understand the long term dividends renovating clippings back into your landscape.
Considerations before buying
While mulching John Deere mowers simplify maintenance of thicker, healthier turf, assess a few factors regarding fit for your particular property:
- Lawn size – Do you need wide cutting swaths and extended mowing times to handle large yards over 0.3 acres? Standard mulching mowers may lack engine capacity for expansive spaces.
- Grass growth rate – Mulching works optimally on lawns with moderate growth not exceeding 4 inches between cuts. Overly lush grass needs bagging to avoid suffocation.
- Terrain – Steep hills put extra load on motors. Ensure engine power handles elevation changes without stalling or clumping debris.
Get correct mulching equipment aligned to property size and grass growth habits. When a good match, mulching mowers provide eco-friendly lawn care.
Any downsides to consider?
Mulching mowers also come with a few considerations to weigh:
- Special gearing required makes most models costlier than standard mowers.
- Mulching struggles removing fallen leaves/debris necessitating added raking.
- They perform optimally on shorter grass lengths under 4 inches high.
- Excessive mulched material can accumulate requiring periodic removal ultimately.
While optimized to handle routine grass clippings well, mulching mowers have limitations working with high volume or wet/damp grass that jam cutting chambers quickly in some cases. And they necessitate closely monitoring soil nutrient levels to avoid overfeeding.
If looking to limit landfill waste but needing to manage moderate leaves/debris, be sure the model handles both grass and light debris sufficiently before purchasing. Test handling wet grass volumes as well when demoing models to ensure optimal mulching capability.
While upfront costs run higher than basic mowers, long run savings from less fertilizer usage and dump fees justify investment for many homeowners. And making your own natural lawn food sustains greener vibrance for years ahead. Determine if productivity and sustainability gains warrant purchasing a mulching unit suitable for nurturing your landscape more naturally from season to season.
