Lawn health is an important factor for homeowners. When you are spending your free time maintaining your lawn, you want a result you can be proud of. Grass clippings are free fertilizer for your lawn, but may also create a mess, depending on how you approach mowing. You may wonder about the best way to handle the grass clippings that you create during your lawn care routine, and mulching and side discharge are two of the most common options.
Mulching vs. Side Discharge – How to Decide (Short Answer)
When deciding between mulching vs side discharge when mowing it really comes down to this:
- How big is your lawn?
- What are the mowing conditions like (long or short grass, wet or dry)?
- What is the area surrounding your lawn like (buildings, windows, cars close by)?
Mulching is better if you have the time to walk a bit slower, want to use your clippings as a natural fertilizer, and have shorter, drier grass. Side discharge on the other hand is a great choice if you’ve got a large open area you want to mow quickly, are not bothered about reusing your clippings or have an area of long and/or wet grass to tackle.
What’s the Difference Between Side Discharge and Mulching?
Side discharge mowers will cut the blade of grass and immediately eject the clipped blades out of the side of the mower. Due to the open flow of air created by the side discharge chute, this type of mower has a greater amount of suction. With the clippings being blown away from the mower, there will be less clogging of the blades and therefore less power loss. This can give you the ability to mow at an increased speed. While it can be messier, this style of mowing will be useful for extra-long grass, wet grass, and large lawns where efficiency is important.
Mulching mowers do not have an opening on the side or may have a closed side discharge chute on mowers that give you the option. Mulching is a great way to get the most out of your clippings, as the very fine pieces will break down more quickly than longer blade pieces. Due to the design, a mulching mower will trap more clippings inside which will reduce efficiency when cutting long or wet grass. This style is great for small lawns, areas where there are a lot of sidewalks or gardens that need to stay clean, and well-maintained lawns where only a small tip of the blade will be cut off.
Mulching vs. Side Discharge- Which is Better?
Both methods are useful, but one may be better for your unique circumstances than the other. There are pros and cons to each:
Pros of Mulching
Free Fertilizer
Grass clippings are an essential source of nitrogen for your lawn, and the mulching mower will chop these clippings up into tiny pieces that are easily broken down. The clippings will also fall into the grass right beneath the mower, leading to a nice even coating that will break down readily.
Less Cleanup
For mowing a small lawn that is surrounded by gardens or sidewalks, you may find that mulching is the best way to go. Clippings will stay right under the mower with mulching vs. side discharge where they will be blown several feet away. This will also be useful in small areas close to buildings or driveways, where you will not want to blow clippings onto walls or cars.
Safety
Mulching mowers can reduce the hazards associated with side discharge mowing. The mulching mower will keep everything contained under the mower instead of flinging it out of the side. This can be useful in areas where people or cars might be nearby during mowing.
Cons of Mulching
Efficiency
Due to the design of a mulching mower, the mower is more prone to becoming bogged down with excess grass. You may find that you have to move slower with the mulching mower to prevent this.
Not Great for Long or Wet Grass
Since there is no way for the mower to eject the clippings quickly, long grass and wet areas can spell problems for the mulching mower. Once wet grass becomes caked on the inside of the deck, it has nowhere to go and may prevent the blades from spinning correctly. This can also lead to clumps and excess mess. In these areas, you will want something that can get the excess clippings out of the deck quickly, so that you can keep moving.
May Not Offer as Clean of a Cut
Where a side discharge mower creates a strong vacuum due to the airflow, the mulching mower does not. The lack of this updraft on the blades of grass may cause some not to be picked up all the way, and that could leave you with blades that are not cut, while others are.
Pros of Side Discharge
Quicker/Great for Large Areas
The side discharge mower is great for large areas of lawn where there are not many obstacles, and you can just allow the grass to blow in any direction. This will allow for very quick mowing, as the clippings are ejected from inside the mower instantly, allowing the blades to keep spinning at full speed and allowing you to keep moving.
Useful for Extra- Long or Wet Areas
Since the mower has an opening on the side, you will be able to go through areas of tall or wet grass without them bogging your mower down. The mower will eliminate the extra-long or wet clippings before they build up inside, which would cause the blades to slow down among other problems.
Provides a Great Cut
The airflow created by a side discharge chute can give you a superior cut to a mulching mower. The blades suck air from under the mower and blow it out the side, and that airflow gets under any blades of grass that are laying down. This will pick up the blades so each one can be cut at a uniform length.
Cons of Side Discharge
Messy
With a side discharge setup, you will be blowing the clippings several feet away from the side of the mower. The wet clippings will create a mess on buildings, cars, sidewalks, and any other surfaces that you direct the discharge chute towards. In situations where you are mowing wet or long grass, this can also leave clumps on your lawn. This will create more unnecessary cleanup.
Safety Hazard
In areas where there are many people, cars or windows, a mower that ejects clippings, sticks, and rocks at high speeds can be dangerous. The direction of your mower’s discharge will always have to be in the back of your mind, especially in these areas.
Less Effective Use of Clippings
The grass clippings that you cut will be blown away from where you are mowing, and this is undesirable for fertilization purposes. You want the clippings to fall into the soil, and to be spread evenly across your lawn. The quick ejection of the clippings also leaves them larger and while they will still readily break down in the soil, it will not be as quick as finer pieces created when mulching.
When Mulching is a Good Option
If your lawn is tiny, well maintained, surrounded by sidewalks and gardens, or close to buildings and people, mulching your grass clippings is a great option. This will not spray messy grass clippings all over your house, and it will allow your clippings to be ground up into a fine fertilizer for your lawn. Due to the need to go slower with a mulching setup, it is more suitable for smaller lawns.
When Side Discharge is a Good Option
A side discharge mowing setup is great for when you have a large, open area to mow where the flying clippings will not cause a problem. The self-clearing nature of the inside of the deck will allow you to keep moving without worrying about clogging. A side discharge mower can also be especially useful if you have to mow very wet grass or taller grass than usual.
FAQs About Mulching and Side Discharging Clippings
Some questions that commonly come up when considering if you should mulch vs side discharge:
Can You Use the Same Blade for Mulching and Side Discharge?
There is a difference between mulching vs. side discharge blades. Blades used for mulching are designed to create less updraft to allow the clippings to stay in the mower deck longer. A standard blade is made to maximize airflow in order to eject the clippings as soon as possible. You may use mulching blades in a side-discharge mower, if the mower can accept it. It may be helpful to do so if you would like to create less discharge or grind up your clippings more. You may also use standard blades in a mulching mower, but they may increase the amount of buildup inside the mower or leave clumps. This is due to standard blades not being designed to chop up the clippings as finely.
Do Mulching and Side Discharge Mowers Have Different Decks?
A mulching deck vs. a side discharge deck will also be different in most cases. The mulching mower usually has an enclosed deck which allows the clippings to remain inside while they are chopped up. The side discharge mower will have a large opening on the side, usually with a chute attached, to eject the cut grass.
Can I Modify My Mower to Mulch if Needed?
It is easy to convert a side discharge deck into a mulching deck by using a mulching kit, which is an attachment that covers the side discharge opening. You may want to also use a mulching blade if you use this conversion. Using a mulching deck for side discharge is not common, because you would have to modify the deck itself by removing metal to create an opening. Sometimes a mower will have an Operator Controlled Discharge Chute, and in this case, the side discharge opening will have a covering that can be opened and closed during mowing. This makes it possible to use mulching in parts of a lawn where needed, but still be able to side discharge in other areas.
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