These blades are also called high lift blades. Mulching works better when the grass is dry. The end result, is you get finer cut grass with the gatar blades. To install a mulching blade, you need a blade that has the right dimensions. The 42-inch mulching kit fits on John Deere mower models X300, LT, LX and GX. Conversely, if you block the chute, you can achieve some acceptable mulching levels even without a mulching blade. I'm Peter, the owner of BackyardGadget. I love the OEM mulching kit for the rm48 and user it routinely. But can you put a mulching blade on any mower? From Grass Collectors, Striping Kits and Mulching Kits to beautify your lawn, to Armrest kits and Light kits which add comfort while completing your chores. These teeth are designed to create superior air circulation and suction that will keep the grass cuttings under the deck and near the sharp edges of the blades. Once you get the measurements right it is now easier to get the right mulching blade. The mulching kit consists of a set of accessories that you can use on your lawnmower that enables it to work as a mulching one. There uniqueness lies in their raised teeth behind the cutting edge of the blades. Hi! To turn you regular mower into a mulching one the first thing you need to do is change the blade then add a restriction blade. If you use mulching blades on a ZTR mower without a deflector that mounts underneath the deck, what would happen? When you obtain the ideal equipment for the job, it no longer feels like a chore and can become a hobby. There are two different types of mulching blades. The other question many who own lawns ask, is whether it is possible to use their lawnmower for mulching? This process can be very good indeed for your lawn, providing extra nutrients to the turf, creating a greener looking and healthier lawn and it is a great way of recycling mowing waste. After sometime, start changing direction by turning left and then change direction again towards the bottom right corner. In the fall they can make a LOT of leaves disappear. Mulching kits generally consist of a mulching plug and blades. You can install or remove the kit whenever you want. The standard mowers are often referred to as 2-in-1 mowers because they are suitable for bagging and side discharging. BackyardGadget.com is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Jackson White is a lawn care specialist who works in a team of 20 individuals, having attained the associate’s degree in lawn management back in 2009, Jackson has managed to work with different institutions, private homes, and hospitals and some of the services that he offers with his team are such as mowing, pest control, seeding, and hedge trimming. Can you mow wet grass with an electric... How to bring back dead St. Augustine grass, How to encourage root growth in phalaenopsis, Cub Cadet Cc600 Vs Toro Time Master-which is the best, A Buying Guide for the Best Lawn Mower Blades for Cub Cadet. Husqvarna HU46 46-Inch Mulch Kit with Blade All 2004-2008 Husqvarna tractors are equipped with premium hi-lift bagging/discharge blades. The answer is it will not be that effective. Because of that, effectively blocking off the discharge chute may be very tricky. Not all mowers equipped with a mulching blade will do a good mulching job due to bad deck design, or low-powered engine. Depending on the type of mower you are using you may realize that the mulching blade is enough to do … Without one, keeping your lawn immaculate can be a... BackyardGadget.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This can happen if you have a plate or a cover that can be used to block off the discharge chute. They are unique in that they have raised teeth behind the cutting edge of the blade. There are various types of mulching blades like the typical standard mulching blades that comes with a distinctive curved design. Remove the cutting deck from beneath the tractor as instructed in your owner's manual. How Mulching Kits Work. At the very least, look for a lawnmower with five or more horsepower. You will hear things like “3-in-1” or “high-lift”. Depending on the type of mower you are using you may realize that the mulching blade is enough to do the mulching. In most cases, you will find in the kit items like mulching baffles, restriction plates, mulching blades, defectors, and decals. BackyardGadget.com also participates in affiliate programs with Clickbank, Commission Junction, and other sites. This is ideal for dealing with most lawns. But keep in mind that in this case, there will be a higher chance of grass getting stuck underneath the deck. However, they are not that good for side discharging and bagging. Follow these simple steps to install a mulch kit on your 46" Troy-Bilt riding lawn mower. The Gatar (toothed) blades, are considered to be 3-in-1 blades. The problem with the 3-in-1 blades is that the re-circulating of airflow may make them less efficient at discharging grass clippings than the 2-in-1 blade. The bad news however, is that the restriction plates are not universal, and because of the design, different variants will not fit every lawnmower. If you're looking for the Cub Cadet Hauler, Snow Plow Blades, Tire Chains, a Rear Hitch Kit or any variety of Attachments to accessorize your Cub Cadet, look no further. With a mulching kit, you can slightly alter the standard blades to function as a mulcher. Additionally, a mulching blade on its own will not make for better mulching. If you have a standard lawnmower, you do not necessarily need to purchase a new mower. Also, know that not all mulching blades perform as expected due to poor mower deck design and engine power. How to Find out If the Mulching Blade Will Fit in Your Lawnmower? Not all standard lawnmowers are suitable for mulching. So, can you use a mulching blade without a mulching kit? Consists of a mulch plate, set of mulching blades and ; mounting hardware. This eliminates the need to rake, collect and bag your leftover lawn clippings. If you already own a good lawn mower that is in a perfect condition, you don’t have to replace it. This is due to the high volume of conflicting information out there about this topic. The purpose of the mulching blade is to cut the individual grass pieces multiple times. My John Deere did a better job with its mulching kit. This is achieved by creating a better airflow that keeps the grass clippings under the deck and around the blades for longer. In the future, if you want to mow without mulching, remove the mulch plug, and you will not need to change the blades. It goes without saying that the most important function of your lawn mower is to cut your grass. The good thing is that many of the standard lawnmowers can actually be adapted for mulching. This is due to their engine power. Fast-growing conditions will warrant more frequent mowing. The Upper Blade is the 2nd blade of the multi-blade system. Mulching mowers have closed off decks that are designed in such a way as to keep the grass clippings under the deck, improve airflow, and continuously push the grass clippings into the blades. Some center holes can come in different shapes and sizes (5, 6, or 7 point stars, H patterns, and more); Measure the inner diameter and the distance between the centers of the two side holes (if the blade has any); and. I would not use standard blades with closed baffles. In most cases, you will find in the kit items like mulching baffles, restriction plates, mulching blades, defectors, and decals. The purpose of the teeth is to create superior suction. After mowing the grass, you need to clear it with the best mulching blades for your lawnmower. Another great benefit is the cost. If you are not getting the desired cutting or the discharging is not as you expected you may want to switch from the all purpose blades to the 2-in-1 blade. Insert the carriage bolt into the mounting hole on the lower left side of the mower deck. The mulching plug is essential for closing off the discharge opening so as to contain the clippings that are under deck. The mulch from the cut grass acts as fertilizer for your grass as it is rich in water and nitrogen. I have a mulching kit (OEM-190-118) that I'm about to install on my MTD YardMachines model 608 21HP 46" but I'm wondering if I can still use my grass catcher from time to time if I want to or if the mulching blades won't provide the air movement needed to blow grass up the chute. This is why before buying a new lawnmower blade, you need to do several measurements and then decide on what blade you will need. What Separates Standard Lawnmowers From Mulching Lawnmowers? In fact, when done right, you should be able to supplement up to a quarter of the needed nitrogen for your soil. The design of the mulching lawn mower utilizes a special type of blade that chews and cuts the lawn clippings into a very fine mulch, which is simply deposited back into the lawn.The result is a cleaner lawn as well as healthy grass due to the continual application of mulch at every mowing. Failing to do so will result in poor mulching performance as grass clippings will end up being larger and side discharged or bagged (depending on the setup). Bob MacGregor. On the other hand, using a standard mower with a mulching kit has the added benefit of more versatility. Step 1: Remove the cutting deck. According to Jackson private homeowners are struggling to keep their lawn healthy and they are doing a bad job about it, the reason he decided to create and consolidate comprehensive information on lawn care. Yes, you can put a mulching blade on almost any mower. This allows you to have more cut grass in the deck and the sharp edges of the blade keep cutting the grass. Since there is not discharge chute the mowers rarely come with a rear bag. Thus, only mowers with at least five or more horsepower should be adapted for mulching. When purchasing a lawnmower it is critical that you get your dimensions right as this will determine the kind of mulching blade you get. The mulching kit consists of a set of accessories that you can use on your lawnmower that enables it to work as a mulching one. link to Can You Use a String Trimmer on Wet Grass? This means they do mulching, bagging and discharging. A closer observation of the mulching blades will reveal that they are curved with inclusion of extra cutting surfaces on the blade edges. Blog Can you use mulching blades without a mulching kit? Review the measurements of your blade to ensure you get the correct sized replacement. Among other issues you may face are: correct blade length, whether you should buy sets, mixing of various items, and finding out if an item is the right one for your machine. By changing the mower's standard blades into mulching blades, the mulch kit essentially recycles the lawn clippings as you mow, spreading them back onto the yard with each pass. The next thing you need to put into consideration is that not all mowers are suitable for mulching. This feeds your lawn and can reduce the amount of fertilizer you need. In some instances, you can decide to block the chute and this can give you some mulching results without necessary purchasing a new mulching blade. Other blades have a plus design which is when two individual blades are arranged in a perpendicular fashion to boost mulching. Mulching can place a lot more strain on the engine. You can turn your machine into a mulching mower with our attachments. If you are going to be moving your lawn up to 2 to three times a week then you need to eliminate the stress that comes with emptying your catch bag all the time. by Jackson White December 23, 2020. by Jackson White. The answer is Yes. Adding mulching blades to an existing mower is a snap for any DIYer with a socket set. Using your riding lawn mower and a mulch kit can increase the nutrients that are deposited on your lawn. However, mulching blades are not well suited for bagging or side discharging. Restriction plates are harder to use unlike the mulching blades as they are not universal. Its purpose is to block and deflect the grass clippings from being discharged through the chute. Most of the center holes can either be 5,6,7 point stars or the H pattern. 1. Jackson is a husband and a father of four, and when not working the lawns, he loves touring exotic places. This can happen if you have a plate or a cover that can be used to block off the discharge chute. Keep in mind that not all manufacturers allow for a different blade to be installed on their mowers. So, can you use a mulching blade without a mulching kit? Before purchasing a mulching kit, make sure to check if it can be used with your lawnmower – mulching kits are usually designed for specific brands and models. Increase your Exmark mower's mulching ability with a replacement Gator Blade. Tighten the locking wing nut. Instructions. Can You Turn Any Lawnmower Into a Mulching Mower? Mulching blades, also known as 3-in-1 blades, can be used to bag, discharge, or mulch grass clippings. Measure the thickness and width of the blade at its center. Anything less and you are going to be struggling achieving the required torque for mulching. Blocking off the discharge chute is necessary. Mulching is cheaper way to fertilize your lawn by re-using grass cuttings. Well, there’s no need to... How to Keep String Trimmer Line from Sticking. The problem is that the different models of lawnmowers do have different deck designs. However, if you are unsure, one of the best ways to make sure that you will get a blade that will fit your lawnmower is always to take the user’s manual along with the blade itself to your local Home Depot store. This all steel blade is specifically designed for the all EGO POWER+ Select Cut™ 21” Lawn Mowers. When changing the blade of a lawnmower however, some caveats need to be taken into consideration first, especially if this is the first time you will be changing your mower’s blade. Since mulching is an inexpensive way to fertilize your grounds many people are switching to mulching mowers. They have a very distinct curved design. Before installing a new mulching blade on your mower, there are a few considerations you need to take into account. Often there is no discharge chute, so mulching mowers are rarely sold with a rear bag. First, you need to install a suitable mulching blade; and; Secondly, you need to add a restriction plate. How to use mulching blades . Regardless if you have to get a new replacement blade or just a different type of lawnmower blade, you need to go through a few steps first. However, not all lawnmowers are capable of mulching and you may need to make adjustments to your existing mower by purchasing a mulching kit. 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