Comparing a mulching blade vs regular blade is very confusing when it comes to choosing the right mower for your lawn. Both of these fall in similar price ranges, so why should you go for one instead of the other?
Read this article where we clearly outline the major differences between these two blade types and their respective advantages. Read through this guide to learn which one is better for your lawn and grass in all aspects of lawn care.
Contents
Mulching Blade vs Regular Blade Comparison Table
| Category | Mulching blades | Regular Blades |
|---|---|---|
| Use | They can cut, bag, as well as mulch grass clippings. | They can only cut and bag grass clippings. |
| The Shape of The Mower Blade |
|
|
| Length of the lawn mower blades | Longer than regular | Shorter than mulching |
| Carries Out Lawn Fertilizing | Yes | No |
| Ability To Mow Tall and Short Grass | Not good at mowing tall grass blades | Not good at mowing shorter grass blades |
| Frequency of Lawn Mowing | More often | Less often |
What Are The Differences Between Mulching Blade and Regular Blade?
The main difference between a regular and a mulching blade is that the regular blade is shorter and has a curved edge. It can cut the grass into much finer clippings which can be used as mulch or fertilizer. The regular one is able to cut taller grass in comparison.
What Are The Advantages of Mulching Blade?
The many advantages of mulching blades include cutting, storing, and dispersing finely cut grass tip clippings over the lawn.
A mulching mower uses much less power which helps you to save up quite a bit on fuel and electricity bills. These toothed blade sets also tend to fertilize the lawn while mowing it.
– Their Three-In-One Cutting Property
When used in lawn mowers, Mulching blades can cut leaf blades, store them in a bag, or mulch them so you can put them to further use. So basically, these blades were created to give the standard blades a run for their money!
It cuts the grass tips into very small and fine pieces and then spreads them evenly on the surface of the grass. If you do not want this to happen, you can always go back to the option of simply bagging the cut grass ends and then using them for whatever purpose you wish.
The blade performs its three functions simultaneously: mulching, bagging, and discharging. The efficiency and speed of cutting are also more than the regular blade.
– It Cuts Grass Into Much Smaller Pieces
Mulching blades have the ability to cut grass into very small clippings. So that even if you lay these clippings on the surface of the mowed lawn, it gives a very neat appearance overall.
These small clippings decompose faster as compared to larger ones. Using them as mulch for the grass or plant pots will break down quickly and release their nutrients into the soil.
These small clippings can also be added to your compost pile. They will quickly break down and turn into compost without changing the overall texture of the pile, unlike larger grass blades and food scraps.
– Can Be Used To Fertilize The Lawn
Mulching blades are the only lawn mower blades that can help you fertilize your lawn while mowing it. It first cuts the grass blades into precise small pieces. These pieces are then sucked back into the mower deck, where it is cut further into even smaller-sized pieces.
You then can spread these finely chopped clippings over the entire lawn as a form of fertilizer. Compare this with a regular type of blade where you will have to collect the cut grass clippings, cut them into finer pieces, and manually spread them evenly over the lawn.
Because these clippings are very finely chopped, they will decompose faster, and your lawn will have quicker access to the nutrients released. This type of natural fertilizer works better for lawns instead of using chemical feeds.
– Mulching Blades Works On Lower Power
Surprisingly, a grass mulching lawn mower works on much lower power compared to other types. This goes for both electricity and gasoline-fueled riding mowers. You can save electricity and fuel bills while providing top lawn care.
– Mulching Blades Make The Grass More Lush
Using a blade mulching mower you can spread the cut grass clippings as mulch over the lawn. Mulch prevents excessive water from evaporating from the surface of the soil. It helps a lot when it comes to retaining water during the hot summer months. Grass clipping mulch has been known to help retain as much as 80 percent of the water in the soil.
Combine this hydrating property with the rapid release of nutrients by the finely cut grass. Your grass will grow thicker and lusher than ever before.
However, not all grass types do well when mulched. This trick works only in grass types with wide blades, such as tall fescue and crabgrass. Tall fescue is a popular cold-season grass that responds well to mulch spread by a mulching blade.
– Mulching Blades Save Time and Are Eco Friendly
Using a mower with this blade type will save up a lot of your time when it comes to collecting, storing, and later dispersing the clippings. Even if you do not want to spread the cut grass on the lawn as mulch, you still have the option of bagging them separately.
Moreover, the ability to convert grass into much is good news for the environment. You will get the opportunity to recycle your organic waste, which also means much less fodder for landfills.
What Are The Advantages of a Regular Blade?
The advantage of a regular mower blade is that it cuts even tall grass finely and then bags the clippings away. Unlike bagging and gator blades, these blades can be used on all soil types.
– They Offer Two-In-One Service During Mowing
A regular mowing blade allows you to cut your overgrown lawn grass quickly and efficiently. It works by creating a vacuum, due to which the grass blades stand up. This blade then easily cuts through this upright grass in one swift motion.
Another in-built property of this blade is allowing the lawn mower to bag and store the cut grass clippings simultaneously. If you are someone who despises their lawn when it is covered with grass-clipping mulch, then this is the blade of choice for you.
Most older lawn grass mowers came built-in with this type of blade. You may purchase one separately and attach it with a modern mower if you want to use some of its properties. Many new designs of mowers allow users to attach and use different blades according to how they want the grass cut.
– They Can Be Used On All Soil Types
Regular blades can be used on all types of soil in which grass has been grown. Whether your lawn is composed of sandy or clay-like soil, either type can be mowed using these blades easily.
The only prerequisite to using these for lawn care is that the grass needs to be slightly taller. It cannot cut through the grass patches that are smaller in height. If your lawn is uneven or sloping, your grass will get cut quite unevenly.
– They Can Be Low Lift or High Lift Blades
Low lift blades are a modification of the standard blades that are useful on sandy soil types. They are less curly than normal ones and only three to four inches long. They do not suck the grass blades too high, so the sand or soil does not blow up around a lot. Because of their small size, these blades work for much longer periods.
High-lift blades are another modified type of regular mower blades. Their blade edges have vertical angles along their length, which creates a very high level of suction. This makes it perfect for smoothly cutting very tall grass blades by pulling them upright.
Naturally, you cannot use this high lift blade on sandy terrain because it will kick up a lot of dirt. It also uses a lot of fuel and energy, which might wear out the mower quickly over time. The good news is that it can bag the cut clippings safely.
– Less Frequent Mowing
Using regular or standard blades means you cut much less frequently for two main reasons. First, these lawn mower blades can get tall grass without getting their inner machinery choked up.
Secondly, these blades cut close to the ground, which naturally takes a long time for the grass to grow. So you get to rest before it is time for the next mowing. If you have little time for constant lawn maintenance or are someone naturally disinclined toward mowing, this should be an important consideration.
FAQs
– Do You Have To Mow Slower When Mulching?
Yes, you must mow your lawn slowly using a mulching blade. This blade works by cutting each blade of grass multiple times so that it gets chopped up into very fine pieces. This is important to turn grass into organic fertilizer or mulch for use in the lawn or garden plants.
That is why it is important to go slowly because if you rush the job, the grass will not be cut up properly. Instead, the mower will leave large and unsightly pieces of grass clumps over the lawn. This will not only be less efficient but will also put a strain on the engine.
– Are Mulching Blades With Teeth a Better Option?
Yes, toothed blades are better at mulching grass than non-toothed ones. Technically, any blade with teeth cannot be considered a true mulching blade.
Still, when you compare it to non-mulching blades like high or low-lift ones, it does a much neater job of turning grass into usable mulch.
The teeth do not cut the grass themselves. Instead, they propel them back toward the mower’s deck, where the actual cutting occurs.
– Why Does My Mulching Mower Leave Clumps of Grass?
A lawn that is wet is the number one reason your grass gets clumped together after being cut by a mulching type of mower. It is natural for grass blades to stick to each other when they are wet or even slightly moist with dew. That is why you must wait for the lawn to dry before mowing it.
The second reason might be that the grass has just grown too long. Mulching types of blades are just not very good at cutting longer blades. They become less efficient and start throwing out clippings in clumps instead. It is better to resort to a regular blade type if you have let the grass grow too long.
If the grass is dry and short and still this problem persists, then you need to check your mower. More often than not, the blades will need sharpening at their edges. If you are still operating a very old type of mower, it may need to be replaced or upgraded.
– Why Does My Lawn Mower Leave a Strip of Grass in the Middle?
If your mower leaves a strip of grass uncut in the middle, its blades are not balanced properly or have been installed incorrectly.
All mowing blades are beveled and meant to be attached to the mower in a certain way. If both or even one of them is improperly attached, grass mowed will be cut unevenly and poorly.
Conclusion
We have discussed the differences and merits between mulch and regular blades used in mowers. Mulch-type blades not only cut the grass finely but also spread it over the grass as mulching material.
On the other hand, the regular type of blades has the advantage that they can cut much taller grass as compared to the mulching and other types. In our opinion, you should keep both these blade types because most latest versions of lawnmowers can use both interchangeably.
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