A mulching kit will only do good when it is dry or when the grass hasn't grown a lot. If you are expecting for the clippings to just go away then you need to rethink a mulching kit. They work on a smaller mower like a push mower because you aren't covering as much ground as fast and the grass gets chopped up much more. On a walk behind or rider you are going to clog up your deck or leave a streak of clippings as you mow.

 

SO how do commercial guys deal with the excess grass? I blow it around as best as i can, but sometimes its too much. and it seems every customer always wants their grass shorter and shorter even though its growing like crazy.

 

Are you keeping your blades sharp? Keeping your blades sharp and underneath your deck clean is imperative!!! How often do you sharpen your blades? Iv had more rain this season than ever before, no drought, slid straight through July and August and only had clumping and clippings maybe 3 or 4 times this season with the Scag. And it was nothing bad enough that I lost clients. All the times I had clippings problem were times I went a little long on a set of blades.

 

I try to change my blades once a week but im going to start every 2 days. Also, i dont clean under my deck that much. I do have a power washer, should i?

 

I change my blades every four days, I scrape the deck with a putty knife at the same time. I'd do every two days if it were up to me but it's not my business. If you cut on a wet day, scrape the deck during or at least after the day is over. You can pull the mower part way onto the trailer ramp to give it a quick scrape when you're out and about. Any buildup under the deck will affect the cut, sometimes rather significantly. Try a chute blocker such as a GrassFlap if you want to try mulching while still retaining the side discharge. I think mulching is best left for leaves, side discharge is the way to go for cutting lots of grass on a regular weekly schedule.

 

Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

Thank you. I recently bought a operator controlled side discharge for my ex mark. However it is just a flimsy rubber door and grass accumulates and clumps on the discharge side with it. If i was to block the chute off or put a grass flap could i essentially put mulching blades on and mulch leaves? Or do i need to bolt on the baffles and everything that is made for the exmark?

 

Hmmmm... I'm not an exmark man, run scags. I got a grassflap on mine and that's exactly what I intend to do is stick some G5's or G6's blades on for the leaves. I don't intend on purchasing or installing a kit on my Velocity + deck.

 

Clean deck , sharp blades and cutting 2 times is usually the trick. When the grass is on steroids i'll mow on a 5 day schedule and may have to back blow in spots.
Every 1 of my lawns are clump free. I never get complaints of my cutting frequency .
YOU ARE THE PROFESSIONAL AND KNOW WHATS BEST FOR THE LAWN!! Cutting it short invites disease and it will dry out faster during the dry season and not allowing you to collect

 

No. No ands ifs or butts. You will get so frustrated almost immediately.

 

I'd get a ocdc because you can mulch and side discharge on the fly

 

i keep my the mulch kit on my 48 exmark lazer all year works perfect...sharpen blades twice a week..bi weekly mows in the spring take a little longer but i only have one bi weekly...wet grass you gotta keep the deck clean...but my properties look bagged with the mulch kit...for me the stock blades that come with the kit work best...

 

and a ocdc does not work the same as a mulch kit...a true mulch kit seperates each blade with the use of baffles....

 

You're right.. but a true mulch kit doesn't give you the option to side discharge when needed. Mulch kits fall short in thick wet grass, especially in the spring when you have 4-6" of new growth to deal with and customers who aren't the least bit concerned about saving water. An OCDC is the best of both worlds.

 

Best tool I've found for quickly cleaning under mower decks is the "wonder bar" sorta like a crow bar but not that's the best I can put it. We keep 2 in the trucks at all times. Small mowers, standers, zero doesn't matter the wonder bar to the rescue. Takes about a minute max on the crappiest deck clean out. I need to add in that if needed we run blowers over the lawn to break up clumps and to help loose grass fall into the cut grass, literally takes about a minute per yard with 2 guys on blowers.

 

Best tool I've found for quickly cleaning under mower decks is the "wonder bar" sorta like a crow bar but not that's the best I can put it.

Can you post a pic?

 

Google wonder bar tool. You can get them in different lengths and the big box stores usually have the in stock. It used to be easy for me to post a pic on here but since the newer site version I'm stumped. I got it to work for me once and still not sure how I did it. Had to create a gallery or something. So just google otherwise I'd be happy to post a pic.

 

Got it. I thought you were calling it a "wonder bar" because you didn't know what its real name was.