The Lawn Mower Swap That Cuts Better For A Healthier Yard

Are you struggling with keeping a healthy appearance in your yard? You've been mowing regularly and watering when needed, but you're still battling issues like discoloration and bare patches. Instead of focusing on the grass and your lawn care routine, the issue may lie within the tools you're using — specifically, the lawnmower and the type of blades on the machine. While many mowers use standard blades, mulching blades can help promote a healthier lawn overall due to the unique shape and function. Mulching blades are designed to cut grass into smaller pieces that have an easier time settling on the soil and breaking down to nourish the yard. Rather than bag your clippings and contribute to a growing waste problem, a mulching blade makes it easy to improve your lawn and help the environment.

Before you decide if swapping to mulching blades will help your yard look healthier, it's important to understand the differences between mower blade options. Standard blades, also known as 2-in-1 blades, have straight blades designed to not only cut grass but also push the clippings out and away from the mower deck. Mulching blades differ in that they have a slightly curved body, sometimes with teeth on the blades. Instead of discharging the clippings away from the mower, these blades throw the grass around the deck to cut it multiple times and break it down into tiny pieces that can be left behind as mulch.

A key factor when deciding between your standard blade and a mulching replacement is your mowing routine as a whole and your goals. Do you try to mow once or twice per week during the warmer months, or does your grass tend to get a bit overgrown before you tackle it? Mulching blades tend to perform best on well-maintained grass. Due to the nature of mulching blades, they do not push the clippings away from the deck, so long grass can clog up the underside. If you're not paying attention to how often you should mow your lawn, you may need to use a standard blade to bring it to a more manageable height before making the swap.

When you have a healthy and cut lawn, the decision to make the swap is easy. Mulching blades are designed to break up clippings into much smaller pieces that can sink down to the soil rather than rest on top of the lawn, allowing for benefits like improved soil nutrition, better moisture retention, and fewer weeds. Your yard can look its best, and you'll save some effort on its upkeep. Mulch blade kits typically come with replacement mulching blades and a side discharge plug so the clippings will continue circulating in the deck and fall to the ground underneath it. And while mulching blades may do a lot more work on each blade of grass, they're just as durable as standard options. If you're worried about how often you will need to replace the lawn mower blades, there's not much difference between mulching and standard blades when it comes to lifespan, with both generally needing replacement after about 30-40 hours of use.

There are numerous advantages to swapping to mulching blades for a healthier lawn, but there are some downsides to keep in mind when choosing which are best for your grass. One factor to note is that mulching blades do not perform well on cutting wet grass or thick and tall sections of lawn. It may take several passes to work through, with the risk of clogging up the blades on the underside of the mower. If you live in an area where wet grass is common or your grass has become overgrown, mulching blades may not be the best choice. Since the mulching blade design creates less suction in the deck, the airflow won't help stand the grass blades up and allow for a cleaner cut like it would with a standard mower blade. With less lift, a mulching blade is also not the best choice when you have your mower set up for side discharge or bagging.

Another task that lawn enthusiasts should keep in mind is proper upkeep, particularly when it comes to sharpening lawn mower mulching blades. While the process to sharpen mulching blades is similar to standard variations, the angled blade means working with these requires a higher level of care and attention to detail. You may find you need to sharpen your mulching blade more often than your standard blade for optimal efficiency. Overall, mulching blades are ideal for promoting healthier grass and soil, so take a moment to weigh the pros and cons of these blades and research compatible kits for your lawn mower to determine if you should make the swap.