i have always used mulching mowers and have had no problems but it seems everyone on here uses side discharge. i prefer the mulching mowers because it helps keep clippings out of beds as well as i dont have to worry about things flying out the side of the mower. so my question is why does so many people use/prefer side discharge mowers versus putting a plate on the side to help keep clippings out of beds and things from flying out. also how do people that do use side discharge keep from stuff getting into beds and on to houses?
mulching vs side discharge
Rvldesign
1 - 20 of 51 Posts
i have always used mulching mowers and have had no problems but it seems everyone on here uses side discharge. i prefer the mulching mowers because it helps keep clippings out of beds as well as i dont have to worry about things flying out the side of the mower. so my question is why does so many people use/prefer side discharge mowers versus putting a plate on the side to help keep clippings out of beds and things from flying out. also how do people that do use side discharge keep from stuff getting into beds and on to houses?
Joined
·
905 Posts
I have a ocdc on the side discharge and it is great
my experience with mulching decks are that they dont allow you to cut very fast, the cut is nver very good (always straglers left behind)
We use side discharge and have discharge plates installed so we can close when travelling by flower beds etc.
If the grass is super tall and thick, it may require a second pass or a blower dispersing some clippings after cutting
We use side discharge and have discharge plates installed so we can close when travelling by flower beds etc.
If the grass is super tall and thick, it may require a second pass or a blower dispersing some clippings after cutting
Joined
·
63 Posts
Well around here during the spring mulching mowers simply can't keep up. There are times when grass grows 8" in a week and you can't mulch that. I don't run an ocdc, I just make sure to stay 2 passes away from objects I don't wanna spray with grass.
Posted via Mobile Device
Posted via Mobile Device
Joined
·
1,020 Posts
Some of the stuff we cut just can't be mulched. We use side discharging and a block off plate because it is more versatile.
Joined
·
326 Posts
Come try and mulch the bi weekly lawns I do and it would be the last time you did that. It's great for immaculate weekly mows where the growth isn't too thick. I side discharge everything. I have to.
Joined
·
1,113 Posts
both have their places. Personally I prefer side discharge due to the increased speed at which you can mow at. Mulching in my experience leaves behind stragglers and left clumps of grass when it was taller. I would rather double cut with a side discharge to spread clippings out more evenly than I would with a mulching mower. I have never run a mulching mower bigger than a 21" but have run plenty of 36, 48, 60, and 72 inch mowers, all of them being side discharge. Just my 2 cents
Thanks for all the input guys. I was just wondering bc you don't see many people using mulch plates here really but I'm in the south and Bermuda and zoysia will dont grow as fast as rye or feacue does. Plus I usually just do weekly mowing although this spring we hVe mowed a lot of yard full and weeds were side discharge would've helped but I'm not removing the plate for one yard.
Posted via Mobile Device
Posted via Mobile Device
Joined
·
587 Posts
Just like some people mentioned above I side discharge because I now a lot of grass that is tall and if I mulched, I would have to double cut everything.
Posted via Mobile Device
Posted via Mobile Device
Joined
·
2,015 Posts
It's funny how different areas different setups are required. I couldn't get away with out an OCDC down here. All my lot sizes are 10,000 square feet or less and with landscape beds, driveways, pools and walkways I'd be plastering something with grass.
Joined
·
63 Posts
Thats why I love my area, having to fumble with an ocdc would probably kill me, atleast until it became second nature like im sure it is for you.
Joined
·
2,015 Posts
Yeah it is. I pretty much drive my Lazer one handed lol.
If a lawn is growing that much then it should be mowed once a week.
EOW should be for the lawns that do not grow much.
Joined
·
717 Posts
I side discharge and don't ever see anyone running a mulch kit locally. You can mow faster side discharging and it doesn't leave stranglers or anything from what people have told me. Now I have to admit it would be nice to not have to cut so I don't spray beds and don't get grass on the driveway or anything.
Joined
·
514 Posts
On my two machines I have a mulch kit on one and side discharge with the other. I prefer mulching in tight areas and side discharging in open areas. Even in our conditions here I dont have that much trouble with the mulching kits. Normally when I have to double cut I would have had to double cut side discharging also. There is a difference also between a block off plate and a mulching kit. It cracks me up when people think they are the same thing. I cant see ever running a machine without a mulching kit on properties like I mantain. I will say they usually do require a little more maintenance than side discharging. You do have to sharpen blades more often to keep the cut quality up. Also running the proper blades while mulching makes a huge difference in cut quality as well.
I know a guy that runs Rear discharge grasshoppers. He has switched from side discharge to the rears. If I remember correctly, the rear discharge decks are cheaper to purchase, and he saves something like 15 percent fuel (diesel) on the same properties that he used to run the same machines - just with the different decks.
1 - 20 of 51 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
