How to Use a Mulching Mower
A mulching mower is designed to shred grass into tiny pieces and turn it into fine compost. The grass compost helps to fertilize your yard. The mulching mower does not have an outlet on the side to expel the grass clippings. Mulching the grass will help it to grow thicker and aid in the prevention of weeds.
Things You'll Need:
- Mulching lawn mower
- Lawn rake
- Clean, dry rag
- Sharpen your mower blades regularly. Dull blades tend to beat the grass, causing it to bruise. Bruised grass blades take longer to regrow and become unhealthy. A sharp blade slices the grass, causing no harm to the grass blades.
- Set a schedule to mow your lawn on a regular basis. Remove about one-third the height of the grass when you mulch it. It is vital that you cut only one-third because the trimmings will mulch finer and fall into the soil better. The fine trimmings will provide better fertilizer for your grass roots. In early Spring when the grass is growing rapidly mulching will be needed every week. During the summer months you might get by with every two weeks.
- Mulch the grass in alternate directions each time you mow your yard. This will help prevent wheel marks or ruts from appearing in the lawn. It also evenly distributes the mulching fertilizer into the soil. This practice makes a tighter fertilizer that prevents weeds from growing through your turf.
- Cut your lawn when it is dry. Wet grass will clump, rather than mulch. It will also adhere to the bottom of your mulching mower rather than spread evenly over the surface of the ground.
- Rake up any clumps that were not finely mulched. Break the clumps up and rake them into the grass, or add them to your compost pile.
- Clean the bottom deck of your mulching mower to keep it in proper shape. Make sure all the grass is removed and wipe down the blades with a clean dry rag.