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A well-maintained lawn requires routine care and the proper tools to do the job efficiently. Choosing the right lawn mower blade is pivotal to maintaining a healthy lawn. There are certain situations that might call for a mulching blade instead of a standard lawn mowing blade. Learn more about mulching blades and how they can enhance the health of your lawn.
What Is the Purpose of a Mulching Blade?
A lawn mower mulching blade cuts grass like a standard blade but also repeatedly chops the grass clippings into tiny pieces. The finely chopped grass clippings are deposited back onto the lawn, acting as a natural fertilizer to help maintain a healthy yard.
In terms of design, a mulching blade has a curved shape that generates airflow and allows grass clippings to circulate efficiently around the cutting deck. It also features a longer sharp cutting edge for repeated cutting.
Standard Blades vs. Mulching Blades
Depending on your lawn care needs, you can choose between standard or mulching blades. Here’s an overview of each option:
- Standard Blades (2-in-1 blades): Known as 2-in-1 blades, standard blades are straight, aerodynamic blades designed to cut grass and subsequently discharge or bag the clippings. Standard blades achieve a lift strong enough to shoot out grass clippings from under the deck. Standard lawn mower blades are best for situations where mulching isn’t an option, such as mowing overgrown grass or when the clippings must be bagged to leave behind a clean-looking lawn.
- Mulching Blades (3-in-1 blades): Mulching lawn mower blades are known as 3-in-1 blades because they can also mulch grass clippings in addition to cutting and discharging or bagging. Mulching blades are designed with more curves and a larger cutting edge to finely chop grass clippings before depositing them back onto the lawn. These blades are best for lawns mowed every three to four days.
Benefits of Using Mulching Blades
There are several advantages of using mulching blades:
- Environmental Benefits: Mulching blades provide an eco-friendly way to handle grass clippings because the mulched clippings provide natural fertilization to lawns. The mulched clippings can replace chemical fertilizers and do not require separate disposal.
- Nutrient Recycling: Since plants absorb nutrients from the soil to store in their leaves, mulched grass clippings return these nutrients to the soil to be reused.
How to Convert a Standard Mower into a Mulching Mower
If you decide a mulching blade is ideal for your lawn care, you often don’t have to purchase a new mower. Instead, you can buy a mulch kit that can convert some standard mowers into mulching mowers.
Mulch conversion kits include a mulching blade and a mulch plug that blocks the chute to the grass collection bag. To switch quickly from mulching to standard grass collection, you can remove the mulch plug so that grass clippings are lifted through the chute into the connected grass bag, all while still using the mulching blade.
When to Choose Mulching Blades Over Standard Blades
- You have a regular mowing schedule of three to four days. Using a mulching blade on regularly mowed lawns prevents clogs and ensures efficient mulching of shorter grass.
- You want natural fertilization for your lawn. Mulched grass clippings deposited back onto the lawn decompose and enrich the soil with essential nutrients. This fosters a healthier lawn without the use of additional fertilizers.
- You want an environmentally friendly mowing approach. Mulching grass lessens yard waste, resulting in reduced plastic bag usage and trips to the landfill. A mulching blade also reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, encouraging an eco-friendly lawn care approach.
Elevate Your Lawn Care with Mulching Blades at Fisher Barton
A mulching blade promotes a healthy lawn and is an eco-friendly lawn care option versus standard lawn mower blades. Contact us to discuss how our mulching blades can serve your lawn care needs.