[johnny75]

I'm able to equip my mower deck w/ a mulching kit and my neighbor swears by his gator blades. I've used mulching system historically only in the fall for leaves, but considering using all season long.

Questions are this...

1) Do you use gator blades or similar and would you recommend?

2) Are there benefits to mulching outside of just reducing the labor involved with bagging and/or raking?

 

[rhenning]

I do mulching all season and Gator blades if I can get them for the mower I am using. Roger

 

[Wayne195]

I definately recommend mulch blades. They are a bit cumbersome to sharpen, but they solve the bagging/raking problem. The reason I don't have mulch blades on my mower is because I like to collect the clippings for weed control in the garden.

 

[Mark / Ohio]

I mulch all year using a Toro Super Recycler, MTD recycler, and a mulch kit on the Deere LT150. I run OE blades on all three. I do put the bag on the Toro on occasion to add some clippings to the garden. Really works well in the garden to keep weeds down, hold moisture during the hot days, and feeds the plants as it rots.

But the two main reasons for me to mulch are one, I never liked to see clippings laying on the grass. The second reason being that bagging or side discharging the grass seems to bother my allergies more then mulching.

 

[fr8bil]

Yes, I mulch all season to return the nutrients to the soil. However, you really need to have dry grass ( late afternoon ) and not let it get too long to be successful.

After owning three different walk-behinds over the last 20 years I can tell you the HRX Honda series does the absolute best mulching job with the blades that come on the mower.

A good idea is to rent a plug aerator at least once a year and thorougly plug aerate your lawn. Those little plugs of soil help the nutrients and water get into your soil and the grass roots and they also greatly help the breakdown of any thatch as a result of mulching.

Definitely do NOT buy any Cub Cadet product for mulching, they are terrible.

 

[johnny75]

Thanks!

I'm sold on mulching! Thanks everyone for your valued opinions. I plan on mulching this upcoming season and will take all the pointers/advice for action.

Their is a specific mulching kit for this mower and will try the available blades prior to splurging on gator blades.

 

[Mark / Ohio]

....Their is a specific mulching kit for this mower and will try the available blades prior to splurging on gator blades.

With some mulch kits you want to look out for clearance issues if you try to use blades other then the OE designed for the kit. On the LT150 38" Tri-cycler kit that includes an interior baffle there's not much head room above the right side blade. If memory serves even if you try running the OE medium or high lift non-mulching blades they will not clear the inside top baffle plate. Need to use the blades that come with the kit.

So if you do go with aftermarket blades be sure to spin them by hand first to see if they go CLANK!

 

[johnny75]

Thanks Mark. Priced out the Tri-cycler kit and it's definately not cheap! ($110+) I was checking out the new Gator G6 blades by Oregon. (Link below)

Passport®: OEP Power Search by OREGON®

My neighbor swears by these and uses side discharge for grass and then affixes a deck plate in the fall for leaves. Possibly an option. Any experience or thoughts on this option? Figure you've had your LT150 to the test and know it's capabilities better than me.

 

[Mark / Ohio]

I've never used the Gators but have heard good reports about them. If they are doing a good job for your neighbor they should work well for you too being same type grass and such. The best part is its a lot cheaper option too.

I have a small yard, approx. 1/3 acre city lot. Sometimes I have to run back across the front yard at a 90 degree angle to fully mulch the clippings if the grass is thick, tall, or damp. (I like it it look bagged when I'm done no matter how tall and wet it is. ) No big deal for me as it only takes another 15 minutes or so to do it. More seat time. But if I was mowing a larger area that extra time would be an issue. I know back on my grandparents farm mowing the barnyard, around gardens, fields, and the lane, mulching would never have worked as it was always too tall and wet before we could get it all done. Also mowing weeds some with a stalk the size of my thumb in a weeks time it seemed. Lot different mowing conditions compared to my fine bladed bluegrass here.

In short whatever works best.

 

[johnny75]

Thanks mark

Ended up ordering the Gator blades. I'll let you know the results this fall when I put them to the test against my leaves. I've got three massive oak trees that drop quite a bit of leaves. Last year lots of raking, blowing, bagging and mulching w/ my push mower. Really hoping these blades cut down on some labor.

*Looking at a used GT245 later this morning for $1,200. If it's within my abilities...looking at cleaning it up and flipping. If finished product turns out better than LT150 then who knows. My LT turned into a diamond in the rough. Cleaned up and runs amazing! Hoping this may turn into a fun and profitable hobby.

 

[stygz]

When I had a soil sample done by my local extension office the report said to increase my fertilizer application amounts by 30% if I chose not to mulch grass clippings.

I have always mulched.

 

[Mark / Ohio]

Given the price of fertilizer now the savings alone makes mulching worthwhile.

 

[cphelps2011]

Yes, I mulch all season to return the nutrients to the soil. However, you really need to have dry grass ( late afternoon ) and not let it get too long to be successful.

After owning three different walk-behinds over the last 20 years I can tell you the HRX Honda series does the absolute best mulching job with the blades that come on the mower.

A good idea is to rent a plug aerator at least once a year and thorougly plug aerate your lawn. Those little plugs of soil help the nutrients and water get into your soil and the grass roots and they also greatly help the breakdown of any thatch as a result of mulching.

Definitely do NOT buy any Cub Cadet product for mulching, they are terrible.

I second the cub cadet comment. Mine only works well with side discharge and bagging. However I struggle to understand how my grandfathers Yard-Man with the same basic deck and blade does a better job all around. Oh well:dunno: