Mulching vs Bagging vs Side Discharge - Which is Best & Why to help your Lawn

Beginners guide to lawn mowing Mulching vs Bagging vs Side Discharge. Understand the pros and cons to each method and which one is right for you to handle your grass clippings and benefit your lawn.
I cover Lawn Bagging, Mulching & Side Discharge and the pros and cons to each and help you choose the one that is right for you.
Disclaimer:
This video, description & comments may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links I may receive a small commission.
Due to factors beyond the control of Silver Cymbal, I cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. Silver Cymbal assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. Silver Cymbal recommends safe practices when working on machines and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of Silver Cymbal, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not Silver Cymbal.

[@JonnyLionMan]

The assembly of the lawn mower could be done without any problems kzbin.infoUgkxTPN04aT-Qdjr_KS3ql7ng8wnU3wwsCqk also recommend I just puzzled something about the red strange “key”. However, it quickly turned out that this creates a kind of contact bridge between battery packs and lawn mowers. An additional backup as a father of a 1 year old nephew is great!! :-)

[@rtel123]

I have discovered the best of two worlds. The pros of side discharge as you describe, and the benefits of mulching. Rather than having the bits choke under the mower when there is no discharge in mulch mode, I discharge out the side and mow INTO the clippings on the next pass, rather than working away from them. The clippings usually get hit by several passes before they are pulverized.

[@scottsmith2052]

I use all three, depending on the situation: For the vacant municipal lot across the street that I mow only when it gets obnoxiously long, I side discharge to conserve power and get it done faster. For spring and fall clean-up when there are leaves and debris in the grass, I bag and then compost. The rest of the time, I mulch to keep the nutrients in the lawn.

[@Rubberglass]

Scott Smith I just bought my first house and mower. I also compost. This sounds like the most full answer. Thanks!

[@slatsgrobneck7515]

Yup! Good strategy. Using the benefits of each type as appropriate. Mulching is my preference because it returns to clippings to the soil without further handling. Having a good mulching blade makes all the difference, imo, and not all mulching blades really do much mulching. LOL

[@mansourramzey7711]

Definitely this video cleared a lot of unknowns for me , so i would choose bagging 1st , next mulching if conditions are good , i don't have side shoot on none of my mowers, so i have only two options and i like to mulch but as you mentioned it needs a good dry , low grass to do that. Tks and i enjoyed the video

[@SilverCymbal]

Thank you very much for the nice comment and for watching. Glad it was helpful.

[@userthatcantthinkofagoodna1440]

Same have a lawn boy with no side discharge (getting one from lawn boy) so I've been mulching. And mulching is good for people with bad grass allergies like me

[@tomn5880]

I have a JD S240 riding mower with the 18.5 HP Kawasaki V twin with 42" Deck. I removed the plastic discharge cover and left the rock guard intact. I discharge to the wind. We have a 1/3 acre city lot and we irrigate and feed the lawn. We use a pre-emergent in early spring (right after the snow is gone and frost is out of the ground) and a high quality slow release firtilizer in mid May. We put a winterizer down about two weeks before freeze up.

[@frankgrimes6771]

2:20 wtf why did he microwave that little mower?

[@ecospider5]

It’s electric. That’s how you charge it. Barbie will mow her grass faster if you throw her in there too to give her a little energy.

[@MrLrebelo1]

@@ecospider5 yes, I never knew how it worked thank you

[@justinpeterson8754]

I bag in the spring to pick up dead material that accumulated over the winter. I switch to mulch in late spring after the applying weed killer. Best looking yard in the neighborhood.

[@diamondjim311272]

Bagging isn't that fast when you consider you have to repeatedly stop to empty the bag so your mow is constantly being interrupted.

[@mattbingham2856]

Not true. If you have any Honda Commercial Mower, you can get up to 4mph on the control walking system. It's a breeze!

[@XxHitmanAssassinxX]

@@mattbingham2856 What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?

[@Alexander_l322]

@@XxHitmanAssassinxX what does that have to do with cutting grass

[@justanobserver530]

@@mattbingham2856 I'm also curious, how does almost running to cut your grass help if you have to dump the bag on each strip? I suppose if you use a high lift mulching blade it might cut down on emptying the bag? I guess this video is directed at people with very small yards. My yard is 2 acres, bagging is out of the question for me.

[@justanobserver530]

Mulching, particularly with a very good blade such as Oregon's gator blade works great, even in the spring when your "not supposed to use Mulching blades".

[@breeze787]

I've always been a bagger of grass and weeds. Now after decades of doing this I've a composting system that works for me and a method for handling the grass cuts. I use the leaves dropped in the fall around my flower beds as mulch. Come spring I rake the flower bed fall leaves and mix it with the grass cuts in a wired bin I make from fencing material. The grass cuts provide the composting material that I lay down on my lawn. I use to put the grass cut compost in my flower beds but grass would grow . So kitchen scrap compost goes in the flower beds and grass cut composting goes back on the lawn for reseeding in the fall. I finally have a composting system that's easier on my back and complete system for handling every kind of composting material in the yard becuz I bag my grass.

[@thecapone45]

Came for mowing advice. Stayed for the random funny pictures

[@EthanAdey]

That’s what Scotty Kilmer does

[@stevethea5250]

@@EthanAdey what funny pics?

[@jasonfoster9118]

He was so subtle about it too haha.

[@vnonya1122]

Looking up flying mulchers right now ... lol

[@water2wine1]

Thank you. I have spent the day educating myself. I have a headache but this is very helpful. It’s no problem to dispose of clippings. The city issues cans for that and pick them up every week.

[@griffmillerii1885]

For my St. Augustine lawn in SE Texas, I am in bagging mode right now, much to the chagrin of my son. :) Bagging gives the St. Augustine a competitive edge over most of the weeds. In the past (different lawn) I was able to mulch most of the time, because there were few weeds. I just ordered my Tenacity/Dye/Surfactant cocktail ingredients, so maybe that will help me get back to mulching more quickly, which would be great - I'm on 0.81 acres.

[@SilverCymbal]

Very cool, the Tenacity is the best weed control on the market. Every time I use it I forget how well it works. Good luck with your project. Everything you need to be weed free: Tenacity Weed Control: amzn.to/2S0ATO2 - Surfactant: amzn.to/2Xz6dod - Dye/Colorant: amzn.to/2XRUT6V 2 Gallon Sprayer: amzn.to/2xBJP3k

[@redneckswag616inhd6]

I have a hand me down commercial mower, this has convinced me to keep it side discharge. Thank you for the informative video sir.

[@ricandmicsrepairshop6835]

We've tried both collecting and mulching on our ride on ,your absolutely right mulching is good if grass is cut often enough we just use the sweeper / collecter for first cut and if it gets left a bit to long, the answer is mulching isn't a complete solution it's best if ur mower can do both , some mulching decks or mowers are better than others john deere ,husqvarna and stiga are pretty good

[@MajinWally]

I live in a desert why am I watching this lmao

[@FunnyFiveADay]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@truthalonetriumphs6572]

Knowledge is Power?

[@truthalonetriumphs6572]

You need to impress the girls

[@Erin-cw4ct]

😂😂

[@Methodical2]

I do all 3 cuts, depending on the situation. I bag in the spring and fall during the heavy growth times and if i have any lawn diseases. I mulch in the summer months because growth has slowed. The Honda HRX can do 2 cuts at once; mulch/bag or mulch/discharge. I use the Timemaster for all cuts and its a side discharge beast. I typically side discharge my parent's lawn because I can only cut it once in 2 weeks.

[@ThePinkPanth3r]

I mulch at full speed but i normally mow every 3.5 days. My lawn is probably 1400-1600sq ft, takes me under 15 minutes sometimes.

[@SilverCymbal]

Those frequent mowing really make your lawn happy! I try to keep that frequency as much as possible. That helps a lot, great point!

[@mteske1]

With my 30” timemaster I keep the side discharge chute installed AND I use the bagger. Keeps power better.

[@onekittyhawk63]

He left out that side discharge, just like mulching, adds nutrients back into the soil.

[@ElkStirrinTheHoney]

It just takes longer because they are longer blades of grass. Not finely chewed up grass that can decompose quicker. So take it for what it is.

[@legodragonxp]

That is a bit of a hit and miss. I had a mow situation where I was basically making hay the grass had got that long. Without addressing the top cover of the clippings 'hay' it would have smuthered the grass and killed it.

[@KingKitten4]

I’ve found that side discharge builds thatch and doesn’t get absorbed as well as mulched

[@timpage5021]

Makes grass grow much faster too and thus mowing more frequently.,

[@jonmobrien]

​@@ElkStirrinTheHoneythere's no one solution for every situation. If you cut more regularly, then the side discharge is very short. If the grass is longer like if you've left it a while or the first cut of the season, then options: Use a catcher; OR Set height to high with side cutter, then set to low and do a second go around slower. It will cut small blades off the shorter grass plus mulch up the first cut.

[@stoneybologna1982]

I start on the outside of the lawn and go clockwise around working my way in. By the time I get to the middle I have run over the clippings so many times that there is not really anything left

[@mtwice4586]

Also, if you are dealing with some fungus or disease, when you are mulching you are spreading that fungus and disease throughout your yard. When you bag you are taking that disease out of your yard. Sure it won't get rid of the fungus or disease, but at least you are not continuously throwing it back into your yard every time you cut. Great video.

[@SilverCymbal]

Thank you for the nice comment and your tips are spot on and very important! Great info thank you

[@JPitty2011]

Very true... Happened to me last year 😥

[@jeroen0011]

Thats true, but when the garden is kinda ok mulching will provide shade on the ground between the grass so it will feed your grass + things u don't want to grow in there will have less chance to do so since less light is available

[@crpth1]

Certainly depending on the precise conditions. But the fact that most tend to forget or simply are not aware. Is that mulching is half way to the composting process. Which in itself is a self healer for many diseases! Although it's true that not everything bad is eliminated by the composting process. By far and wide the vast majority is! The fact remain that "mother nature" do not like, large accumulations of anything! and will try to level it on the first opportunity! ;-)

[@CheZfrmdaWestWisc]

@@SilverCymbal what about hybrid side dicharge mulching you discharge to the area of your next pass the whole time

[@amallica]

Ya i love this guys videos and comedy

[@Miklos82]

One item you failed to mention in regard to disposing of grass clipping when bagging is to use them in a compost pile. A good pile needs green matter- clippings and brown matter- usually leaves. Shredded leaves will compost faster and what better way to shred them- run over them with your mower and bag the shredded leaves.

[@PawsAndKeys]

I don't have that many leaves, what I do is use the mountain of cardboard boxes we always collect. I sandwich layers of cardboard and layers of grass clippings on the edge of the woods. Did this last summer, and this spring we had beautiful brown decomposed grass with tons of worms in it, which went straight onto the garden!

[@professorpenne9962]

this is a good post. it feels like such a waste to throw grass and leaves into the trash.

[@wilfiebrown2570]

Thank you for your advice

[@kolt4d559]

@@professorpenne9962 It depends on what the quality of "green" material that is being collected. Composting is great, but if the temperature of your pile is not hot enough to kill off the weed seeds and rhizomes the compost will need additional attention. Personally I tend to discard what is collected in the bag from some sections (there are 9 distinct ones) of my 1 acre yard that I know are full of weeds, and/or poison ivy. Sometimes I also side discharge to replenish the lawn, but am currently looking to reduce the thatch load in most of my yard. TL;DR: Do what works best in your situation, everyone has a different condition to their lawn. (edit: some grammar)

[@newenergyexperience434]

Comes for mowing advice *stuck reading the comment section*

[@sjackhammer]

I side discharge by mowing starting from the outside towards inward with the side discharge shooting inwards so I'm cutting not only the grass yet to be cut but also the clippings again, instead of the traditional up and down the lawn method

[@andie_pants]

Up-and-downer here. I may just try that. The benefits of mulching but without the trapped clippings bogging down the motor.

[@oldcroneysgarage9739]

We have a lawn mower that is ment for mulching we live in a farm field where grass grows tall so every time we whould cut the grass it whould stall so we used a bundgy cord to hold the lid open

[@mcesarey]

I mulched for years, but now live in an area with a bunch of leaves that are acidic, so it kills the grass. Have to bag now.

[@timmaybee84]

I prefer the side discharge for both professional and personally at home. If you have a problem with the area just double but your outline and when you turn always turn where the discharge is controlled. Even if that means making those 3 point turns to control the clippings

[@NotThatBob]

Mulching with most mowers isn't mulching, it's thatching. I hate dethatching, so I learned this lesson the hard way. Bag or blow towards one direction to make raking easier. Side discharge needs raking.

[@nurseme6170]

Do you have a video of the best lawn mower to buy for newbies?! I’m a first time home owner and need some guidance on what to buy

[@cm1133]

You want to buy a rear wheel drive self propelled mower with that has bigger wheels in the back (makes turning easier). Be sure to buy a mower with the bulletproof Honda GVC 160 engine. You’re welcome.

[@bowbender1]

Personally, I like mulching. I cut a ton of lawns, but you are right. You need to watch the weather conditions. I can also cut a lawn twice using the criss cross method faster than a person that bags and in my opinion it looks better. Anything you missed cutting in one direction you get when you go the other direction and the clippings are virtually gone. Also, I have witnessed many times people fertilizing their yard and within a few days cut and bag it. To me that is a waist of money

[@MrTilbin]

Exactly the info I was looking for. I'm starting a lawn renovation myself and have never bagged over the seasons. While my yard looks nice and green, it's mostly from the weeds, that leave me a brown muddy mess in the winter. This season I thought about bagging to stop weed spreading and it seems like the right call. I find myself doing a ton of raking to pull up the mess left from the summer in the spring and fall, so until my yard gets more lush, bagging it is.

[@jeffreybower5959]

honestly, it all depends on how everyone cutts their lawn!! most people still bag, mulch or use the side discharge and a few never edges and cuts way tooo low!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@maxvolume7862]

Thank you for the objectivity. I like being able to make my own choice. So many people make videos saying their way is the best way yet, you present the options allowing people to choose what's best for them. I'll keep bagging. Thanks.

[@gaeltrenton2007]

You prolly dont give a damn but does anybody know a method to get back into an Instagram account? I stupidly forgot the account password. I would love any help you can offer me!

[@milojohan4521]

@Gael Trenton instablaster ;)

[@jack2swaggy231]

7:20 why does that engine look like its on backwards

[@sking2173]

Backwards isn’t a problem ... upside-down IS a problem ...

[@Saxondog]

First two cuts, mulch. Third cut, bag. That way grass gets nutrients and cleared every three cuts.

[@themonsterunderyourbed9408]

First cut, bag. All next cuts, side discharge. The first cut, bag to pick up debris. The next cuts side discharge to put nutrients back in the soil.

[@fabiolavilla1163]

As a lawn mower enthusiast... I agree

[@72mach-1]

Bagging is a pain in the neck, dealing with the bag and clippings, mulching is best for me and its free fertelizer.

[@Texas_Cruiser]

Nice ride what engine?

[@getting_wordy]

Your videos are very good though they only pertain to fescue grasses in the northern parts of the U.S.

[@walnutcreekwoodworksofjack3520]

use to work with a guy before I retired that did lawn service. I suggested to him the grass clippings he was paid to haul off should be turned into compost then sold back to those customers. paid to haul away then they buying it back. LOL and these are educated doctors

[@daflea66]

I do this. Part of my agreement with bagged customers is that they need topdressing annually. so we mow, bag haul, charge for it, compost it, and once or twice a season bring last year's clippings/leaves back as compost and topdress some new seed. win win win

[@crpth1]

Can't agree more! Every time I see grass clippings bagged and hauled away. I can't avoid thinking "what a bunch of morons"! Honestly it's in the edge of ridiculous! If one have a the space for a lawn. He'll surely have the (tiny) space needed to compost. While considering that most of the work is "dumping" it all in the same place and let it be... Really make me wonder about sanity and stupidity, all wrapped in the same package! LOL 😂

[@cottawalla]

@@crpth1 so the doctors etc are paying you a fraction of what they can make in an hour to do what would take them an hour to do. You're a genius.

[@jorgejeffries5855]

That's why I rarely pay anyone to do anything.. and contractors hate people being down their back while doing a job, but there is always good reason to keep them honest.. they all have the "fuck em when you can" policy.

[@nathangilbert1344]

@@jorgejeffries5855 It's to prevalent in the industry sadly. The law is almost always on their side which makes it worse. But not everyone is like that. All the good builders usually end up commercial leaving residential the unwanted a lot of the time.

[@jb888888888]

I have been told that mulching helps block weed growth while helping grass to grow. It sounded authoritative when they said it but IDK if it's true.

[@doomtomb3]

Definitely like the clear explanations. I mulch the front yard and usually bag the back because more weeds and I use the clippings to make compost which eventually goes back into the yard anyway.

[@ZeroCool396]

It depends on the type of grass you have as well. Most people that live in cul de sacs have what i call Fake grass.Try Bagging 2 acres of land. My grass grows faster through side cutting. And i cut the grass on a 5 at first then i drop it down to a 3 or 4 depending how thick it was. I discharge my grass out ward toward the edge of the property..

[@nennen7491]

Took my eyes off the video for a second and came back and saw the microwave scene with the tiny mower got me laughing 😆

[@canyonstinky7817]

That was a walker mower. The real ones are thousands but they are real nice!

[@ianmackenzie686]

Used to mulch but the results never lived up to the hype, at least for me. It was also a bit too much to think about. I've since switched to bagging exclusively and mow frequently. Somehow or other it has made a huge difference for my lawn. Of course I also feed the lawn regularly. FJB FYT

[@antky5443]

I don't know what I would do without the specific and detailed visual and verbal instructions I can get on you tube. My parents taught me nothing about lawns or lawn equipment. This video helps me see I mad a good choice in mowers! Hey Thanks !!

[@SilverCymbal]

I really appreciate the nice comment and glad my videos can help. As many as I make I watch others to learn all the time too.

[@bropocalypse2065]

Amazing format and presentation.

[@SilverCymbal]

I appreciate that, thank you

[@marcusd6096]

Other than I feel better pulling up to the house with my grass being cut , I just cut my weeds and grass with side discharge and be happy. The grass and weeds grow back just fine every year. It may not be uniform grass but it still looks pretty good after a cut. Having only one type of grass in your yard looks best, but if you just want a nice green striving lawn with less work, it's best to be ok with the mixture of grasses that survive in your yard already imo. One won't have to worry about grass dying that's for sure.

[@smug8567]

I was sitting out front of the house Yesterday. I told myself I couldn't mow the lawn until I saw a NJ License plate. it wasn't 30 mins later and here came a car from NJ. Damn the bad luck. I had to mow.

[@smug8567]

@Gus Goose No Texas. Thought I would get out of mowing but it backfired

[@smug8567]

@Gus Goose for sure

[@causarumcognitio]

Not suggesting you’re stupid or something, but I wonder if Einstein sat on his porch and decided he would design a nuclear bomb if he saw a New Jersey plate drive by.

[@smug8567]

@@causarumcognitio Maybe so

[@eduardoconductor]

@@causarumcognitio I guess he didn't see that NJ plate given the fact that he never designed any nuclear bomb.

[@winstonian88]

If you have a small yard and don’t want to cut more than once per week during heavy growth periods, just bag it. It’s a better cut, less mess and gets rid of weeds and debris. Fertilize every 3-4 weeks during rapid growth and your lawn will love it. If you’re doing a maintenance cut or the lawn has slowed down, then mulch.

[@RomrotMechanikos]

I compost my grass clippings and use the compost for my vegetable garden.

[@catlady8324]

RompotMechanikos Communist!

[@SiegePerilousEsauMaltomite]

Best option, my grandparents had a pretty large compost pile from clippings and kitchen waste from three meals a day. I have never seen tomatoes like we could grow with that stuff heavily mixed in the soil

[@thomashayes3330]

I can't do that with couch grass. Don't want that invasive grass starting in a vegie patch!

[@pughconsulting]

I mulch everything, every time. I keep the blade sharp and keep a spare sharpened, so all I have to do is swap it out.

[@kevincornell1439]

get the best stripes with mulching too. also with mulching there is less leaf blower time and no need to stop to keep dumping clippings.

[@joequillun7790]

It's now Oct. in New England, and leaves are falling everywhere. I was hoping for this video to give some input on mucho leaves, but see it's mostly about grass clippings.

[@BasikVids_4_Life]

Strictly mulch all the time, sharpen blade often, aeration every other year, best looking lawn in the neighborhood 👌 most neighbors bag clippings and take twice as long. When the hot days of summer come around my lawn handles it better than theirs thanks to the layer of decomposing material (clippings) protecting the soil from the hot sun 🌞

[@warehouse13-motorsports]

All my neighbors around me pay for lawn service including spraying for weeds, etc. I do it all myself and my lawn just looks as good as theirs does. A couple bare of patches where the bulk trash crane scored the lawn but that's it. I don't bag either and I cut the lawn short.

[@realpro8817]

@@warehouse13-motorsports They pay for their time. Yours is a hobby. Nothing wrong with either option.

[@Largetalons]

I've never ran a tally of what all my neighbors do. Do you guys put a sign up that says "call me about your clippings", or just dash outside every time you hear a mower turn over?

[@treehugger-cz2gd]

2:18 great video very informative However Tiny lawnmower?? In the microwave??? Why??

[@billbright1755]

Happy mowing, love the smell of fresh cut grass. Options to consider. A nice lawn and garden to enjoy.

[@SilverCymbal]

As my lawn has improved so has my enjoyment of mowing. I feel just like you do. Thanks for watching.

[@WormholeGarden]

Bag clippings then pour them into your vegetable garden - an even-more-sustainable modern Ruth Stout method.

[@tomhardware2254]

I like rear discharge personally. A good push and it really empties the bowls.

[@prg2812]

That's why it works for you, you use bowls instead of bowels. Keep up the good work :-))

[@TheAgentAssassin]

Weird I empty my bowels in white porcelain bowls.

[@mattwaters6987]

That is too funny!😂👍

[@brianfranklin9163]

I do mulch and bag on the parts of the lawn that aren't doing well. I mow with the garden tractor at a relatively high deck and mulch and then I go back and bag with the push mower at a slightly lower level. I don't do it every time but the lawn breaths better if you get the clippings out once in a while. Isn't the side discharge debris going into the street against ordinances in many counties?

[@reesewalker8708]

Yes it is

[@mrgallbladder]

Like mulching, side discharge also doesn't work well when grass is wet. It clumps together at the discharge chute and clogs up your mower. You have to stop and clean it out every other pass or so, and then your lawn is full of grass clumps.

[@ProverbsrUs]

Just mowing in general sucks when the lawn is wet. The bag chute gets clogged, side chute clumps and mulching... just no. Don't even think about it. Best advise, wait for the grass to be as dry as possible before you do mow.

[@jasweb147]

Mow when the lawn is dry, not when wet! Good luck and be safe.

[@neal6473]

Question to you is why would you want to cut your grass while it's wet it's much better when the grass is dry you will think it's just common sense that's all.

[@neal6473]

@@jasweb147 That's right Jas Web.

[@neal6473]

@@ProverbsrUs That's right.

[@waynewyler9507]

on side discharge if you mow so you blow the clippings away from what you don't want the clippings on [ie the house or sidewalk or fence row] for 2 or 3 rounds then reverse yourself you will blow the clippings back where you just mowed and it is like mulching the grass will decompose and go back into the ground. i know because if you have holes or low spots in your yard just rack your yard and put the grass there and the next year the holes or low spots are full of dirt so you don't have to go out and buy topsoil or anything else to solve your problem just let mother nature do it. takes longer thats all

[@wildbill23c]

That's what I do the first couple cuttings of the year, then I put the mulching kit on the mowers and mulch the rest of the year...I found my lawn actually looks better when I mulch, combined with cutting at a higher cutting height during the hot summer months helps as well.

[@Hayrange]

I think an advantage of side discharge is also nutrients for the soil and grassroots. But of course, the frequency of mowing is also going to determine that. The more frequent, the better.

[@jamesritz7254]

Mulching kills grass. Grass will kill grass. Too many times mulching will turn your grass brown

[@walnutcreekwoodworksofjack3520]

my brother just gave me a 6.5 hp self propelled with rear bagger. for the farm this been great for making free compost.

[@francomacedo2025]

Great tips very helpful thanks.

[@faulltw]

I like what ever method causes the pic of that girl to pop up. ;)

[@robertgildea2841]

People in Elmira NY mow their lawn every 3 days they believe if they wait 7 to 9 days between mowings their lawn will be butt high. Their lawn won't be butt high in 7 to 9 days that is total exaggeration. Sincerely Robert Gildea

[@thenudebrewer7466]

After dealing with my lawn for a few years now, I'm convinced the whole "mulching is great, the nutrients break down" is more false than true. It's more like the grass you cut is like an old Christmas tree, and the "nutrients" are the ornaments. Ok so a few balls and some tinsel break down and go back to the soil... and you're left with a huge tree. Same with the grass. Some nutrients may go back, but the grass doesn't break down to NOTHING. Probably 80% of the grass is still there. It just keeps building up and building up, because unlike this hippy dream they keep trying to sell us, it doesn't COMPLETELY break down the way they're selling it. MOST of it just sits on your lawn. I've recently switched to bagging and disposing and my lawn looks 500% better. And even if you live in the city (which he outlines as a "problem"), it's not a problem because cities have yard collection days. Just put it all in reusable yard-waste containers, they'll take it away, and in a lot of cities, they'll even use those yard clippings for free compost/ mulch/ topsoil. Mulching suffocates your lawn. I"m convinced it was started by companies just to sell chemicals to bring it back from a problem you could have avoided so easily in the first place-- just bag your clippings!

[@thomashayes3330]

I think it really depends on your climate. If you live in a cold climate the microbes would likely struggle to break the lawn clippings down enough resulting in a thatch layer.

[@sparkys7232]

You are absolutely correct. I’m surprised that more people don’t know or even mention that the grass clippings do not 100% decompose. I also believe that this creates a layer of thatch. I always bag and would rather fertilize to maintain a nice lawn.

[@steelbat54]

I started mulching a few years ago and I’ve noticed a difference in the quality of my lawn..

[@tommagic100]

Mulching is the way to go

[@shanehanson6515]

It sure is. I do it for a living. The yards look way better

[@fog1962]

Yes it gives nutriants back to your lawn

[@MrGumby-cj8gz]

I bag my clipping then throw them in my compost tumbler and eventually return them to the lawn in the form of a light top dressing.

[@SilverCymbal]

Composting is good stuff!

[@haroldgarner7140]

Same here, works a treat!

[@mrlibowski493]

I only clicked on it for a hot blonde, I was mislead so thumbs down

[@BruceLyeg]

I concur with you, my esteemed colleague.

[@BruceLyeg]

Indeed.

[@redhorsereincarnated5040]

My experience with mulching is that a thick layer builds up and prevents rain from hitting the soil which causes it to harden up. The water then runs off rather then seeping into the soil makes the problem worse. Imo the best method is to bag most of the time with the occasional mulching.

[@BarbellRoy]

Same thing with my lawn. That and by fall, I had a massive layer of thatch. Last spring & this one, I'm bagging as much as I can. Mulching in the spring just makes the grass grow twice as fast, and I'm NOT mowing every two days!

[@jcrockett870]

Try mowing with golf shoes on.

[@redhorsereincarnated5040]

@@jcrockett870 Good idea. It might help.

[@marcusweaver9728]

I have a large yard and live in the south so my grass is super thick St Augustine. I use a Toro Timemaster (dual blade 30 inch cut). I bag and leave the side discharge chute open. This cuts down on the amount of times I have to bag and gets the advantage of the nutrients in the clippings. In the heat of the summer during peak growth season, if I bag only I can fill as many as 3 (55) gallon contractor bags which is upwards of 9 times stopping to empty the mower bag. It just isn’t an efficient use of time.

[@codyp8214]

I do it all. Cause I’m dangerous like that.

[@victormorin4217]

I appreciate the fact that you covered the area of weeds in the video. Now I know that bagging is the only option for my weed infested lawn.👍🏼

[@b.d.4229]

not sure where you're from but you really need to address the weeds early spring or whenever they are about to germinate. Same goes for crabgrass. If you can keep that from growing in to begin with you'll have a way easier time mowing and getting that lawn that makes the neibors jealous.

[@snoopfurlow1275]

Side discharge with some sharp gator blades,do a fine cut,

[@notavailable9919]

Gator blades are not good for discharge, you lose too much air velocity from the serration, some high lift blades would be preferential.

[@JR-zw2vb]

mulching doesn't always make your lawn dry or dead; you need to mulch it repeatedly until all the chunks grind away, and will give more nutrients for grass to grow. The reason mulch may make your lawn dead is because of mold. make sure you grind them multiple times. i learned this from professional mowers. - my neighbors always bag them, and they are dry and dead; whereas, i have a lot of chunks laid around mulched, but have greener, and thicker grass. at first a few spots died of mold; but after mulching multi times and became more effective on it, my grass is great. nature wins! no need to bag them, purchase extra city pickup stickers etc. also, push mowers can be effective and faster than riding mowers too. except you get tired. but in return, you got some good exercise. just make sure you drink plenty of water, and have cover for the sun with long sleeves. have fun. thanks for good video.

[@CuriousKL]

OK at 1:46 he begins to touch on how professional's can utilize side discharge because of 'power'. Not correct. You can buy a 23 hp zero turn mower to cut your grass, which has comparable hp that a professional mower has. First the term 'professional' is not correct. The professionals (those that mow lawns for a profit), use 'commercial' grade mowers. The main difference between a commercial mower and a residential mower is BLADE SPEED. Blade speed, the rpm of the blades, has been lowered on ALL residential mowers of any type. Commercial grade mowers also are not effected by governmental safety features as per residential. One reason for this is due to ying yangs, and patty wangs, giving their kids rides on their riding lawn mowers while mowing the lawn. We all know and here about the tragic lawn mower tragedies. So this guy needs to assign the correct terminology. Professional lawn care is about time. Just as any form of contractor, time is money. The blade speed advantage allows those 'professional' lawn care companies to mow at a high rate of speed. It reduces fuel consumption and time per lawn to increase productivity and increase profits.

[@michaelwiley5427]

Keith Dunbar Nope- The difference I have found between residential and commercial is the warranty, same mowers just warranted differently.

[@LastBastian]

This is a bit confusing, I hear "Mulching and clippings are great for your lawn." then "Mulching is bad for your lawn, if said lawn isn't already perfect." ???

[@SilverCymbal]

If you have a lawn in great conditioning that is growing well mulching clippings can work well but if your lawn is struggling already or in a renovation project I wouldn't recommend mulching based on my experience.

[@davegregg1512]

Thanks. The problem is leaving clippings on the lawn. We’re told it’s a good thing, however your video points out not necessarily so.

[@l9ikjam]

Its not good if the grass it too long when you cut. I cut the grass twice per week and never have clippings on my lawn after I cut. My nephew lives across the street from me and he goes weeks without cutting his grass. A few hours after he cut the grass there is dead grass all over his lawn. I know people say it's bad to leave that grass on the lawn but for some reason the dead grass is gone after a few days and his lawn still looks good

[@marknewdick4165]

Depends on season. I'll bag in fast growing spring and mulch in high summer. Back to bagging in fall, but with a higher cut. Side discharge I don't do ... too messy.

[@joeknowz4898]

I can't get to mow twice a weed now with rain in the forcast and it grows like crazy. I usually take the mower up 2 height levels and side discharge. Then I drop it down 1 level and mulch what I cut. Twice the work but cutting it when its that high is not good....

[@offplanet6882]

If you mow often All these methods are ok But again seed genetic

[@stansroka]

Love the graphics lol

[@georgeshephard5984]

Buy a bag mower cut the grass then mulch the clippings.

[@SilverCymbal]

Thanks for watching.

[@michaelfred8848]

When bagging you’re also collecting the weed heads instead of scattering them back onto the lawn.

[@jamesec1949]

Thumbs up. Here in Georgia we scalp and bag at the beginning of the season before the grass starts to turn green. We may do that several times to remove what is dead grass that has no nutrients. We do our last scalp when we see a sea of green. After the bermuda is growing we mulch. Which is the proper way to take care of the lawn.

[@Chase_is_a_race]

Always used side discharge, but if we get too much rain and the yard gets away from me, it needs double cut to look good.

[@aggie7756]

Been mulching St. Augustine grass for the past 10 years, including leaves in the fall, and have never had an issue. I fertilize once per year with weed & feed and keep an eye on the color. If green begins to turn yellow, then I'll spread some ironite but keep it low.

[@Sparky5]

I do the same. The lawn looks fantastic and it grows thick.

[@SirChevy]

I understand many of the points you've made, but I don't completely agree. I exclusively mulch my lawn. In the autumn, I mulch the leaves into the lawn. Bagging is removing valuable organic matter from your lawn, and side discharge doesn't shred grass and leaves small enough for fast decomposition. I think the keys to successful mulching are 1) have a mower that mulches well, with a proper mulching blade; I use a 33" Snapper rear-end rider with either a Ninja or Gator blade, 2) keep the blade(s) sharp; I have spare blades on hand and I change them throughout the season, 3) if the grass is high and thick, you may need to cut only 3/4 of a swath, 4) keep the mower moving; since a mulching mower is literally "carrying" the cut grass around by repeatedly spinning it around under the deck, if forward motion stops, you'll drop a lot of grass in the spot you stopped. During late spring/early summer when the grass grows quickly, I sometimes have to go over my lawn a second time (in the opposite direction) to "re-mulch" clumps of grass. I have a little less the 1/2 acre, so this isn't a big deal. Toro has made some decent mulching push and riding mowers. I have also used a number of Craftsman push mowers with Gator blades; some mulched better than others, but none were as good as the Snapper. After over 20 years of mulching grass and leaves, I have very little thatch grass. Mulching leaves definitely required multiple passes, but I think it's easier than raking or using a leaf blower, and again, you're returning a good amount of valuable organic matter to your lawn (leaf mulch is good for growing practically anything). A downside of leaf mulching, in my case, is that the dog gets the mulched leaves caught in his coat and then brings them into the house, where they miraculously drop onto the floor you just cleaned. I will agree that a bagged lawn really does look best, but that incremental improvement is outweighed by the ease and benefits of mulching. I hope this helps.

[@sargvsu]

You failed to address arguable the most important factor. Over 2/3 of your lawns moisture is contained in the grass blade. Bagging removes the moisture from the lawn, thus requiring more irrigation. Lawn experts agree for the most part that bagging should be done rarely, but is necessary at times.

[@LarryKelly]

Bagging isn’t fast if you count the time required to empty the bag and deal with the clippings. Never buy a mower without a side discharge option. Take a week’s vacation in May and come back to your lawn uncut for 14 days. Best is to side discharge mow and do a little raking in spots.

[@davlindteam2952]

Gave us perfect information as to what new mower to purchase.

[@SilverCymbal]

Glad it was helpful!

[@zeppish9378]

My company side discharges everything. As long as you know how to mow, you won’t get grass every where. I also have chute blockers for when I go by sidewalks and mulch beds. Same thing as mulching and you can go faster. Just my opinion 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@donm1547]

Great info, I have found in my own experience that mulching does tend to build up layers of material that do not completely decompose over time, as a result I have found that after a few years of mulching and bagging also, that the elevation of the entire lawn gets much higher than surrounding mow strips or sidewalks. I am in the thought process of renting a sod cutter to cut my lawn back down 2 being level with the surrounding structures. I think that it looks much nicer like that. This may not be a common issue, just wanted to mention it.

[@winston9971]

D M yes i totally agree with you my lawn use to be level with my sidewalk. After a fee years of mulching. Its now much higher. I should have been bagging.

[@MarkJacksonGaming]

-- Not bad. Not something I'd recommend for people with underground sprinklers :)

[@AquidneckRider]

Dethatch your lawn to get rid of the built up layer and you could roll the lawn to flatten it back out. I would also suggest you aerate at some point.

[@shakengandulf]

I know your post is 2years old but... thinking of alternating between mulch and bagged. Im thinking that every time i mow bagged, it might pickup and dispose of last times mulch run... or whats left of it.

[@BadfingerFan]

I can't deny the fact that mulching raises the ground level. However, that is miniscule compared to the fact that concrete driveways and walkways (and even stepping stones) sink at a much higher rate than mulching raises the grade. The problem is weight. Also, if the ground is moist, it will sink faster. If automobiles or trucks (or even heavier battery powered vehicles) are allowed to park on said concrete, the sinking rates increases. Delivery trucks don't help either! Rather than removing the entire lawn, one can temporarily remove the section near the driveway. After excavating several inches of soil, the grass can be returned. One of the main reasons for doing this is so that it will be easier to edge the lawn.

[@kj9219]

Yeah, I use to directly bag it..Now I use the side discharge method. My wife is much happier...

[@chrisbailey4759]

Very funny, looks like most people don't get your meaning though!

[@HBFREEWORLD]

Chris Bailey 😂👌🏼

[@kramnull8962]

@@chrisbailey4759 Now you know, when he was bagging it, his wife was having to take it somewhere in her trunk to dump it...

[@FoolOfATuque]

It’s a pretty stark difference when you look at my lawn compared to my neighbors around me. Most of my neighbors have professionals do their lawns. The professionals bag all of their grass. My neighbors and I mulch our lawns, and this spring there was a stark difference between my lawn and the professionally maintained lawns. The professional lawns were much greener.

[@DittyDafku]

Your story ended differently than I expected hahaha

[@Znew07]

@@DittyDafku in order to mulch, you must have perfect grass and no weeds, then the occasional mulch during a normal quick trim is best. Mulching with weeds just spreads the weeds’ seeds all over your lawn. Eventually you won’t even have grass, you’ll just be mowing weeds. First thing is first. Get rid of pests, moles, grubs.. then get rid of weeds.. then overseed with grass seed fit for your climate region. Then water water water.. then fertilize. Honestly if you use fertilizer then there’s no need to mulch anyway. And mulching and side discharge just leaves the yard looking messy with all the brown grass clippings dying all over and sticking to everything. Just bag and fertilize once you get the yard in shape.

[@TROOPERfarcry]

I'm really late on this, but I had a similar situation, and I think I solved it by buying a dethatching-rake and using it. My lawn was notably healthier afterwards, and it was really bizarre to see how much I got up with the dethatching rake (which I named "Margaret'... "Margaret Dethatcher"). My point is, if I had been bagging all along, I bet I wouldn't have gotten up so much thatch... and I bet my lawn would've just been naturally happier.

[@FoolOfATuque]

@@TROOPERfarcry I detached last year and it looked truly terrible afterwards. This year that paid off though, because my lawn is deep green even though we are in a drought.

[@billycox475]

The professionals in my town side discharge, then spend an equal amount of time blowing the clippings into the street. Makes no sense.

[@jobflobad0by0b]

My lawn is getting a bunch of clovers that seem to be spreading. I googled it and it said it may be due to a lack of magnesium or something like that. I ride a John Deere and side discharge. Any thoughts for how to get better grass quality free of clovers?

[@MarkJacksonGaming]

-- I was a groundskeeper at a country club for several years when I was young. This video more or less lines up. I'd add that mowing wet grass doesn't work in any scenario (though shooting it works best) The bag is designed to breathe for vacuum force. A wet, gunky bag doesn't do so well. You find the chute clogged frequently. Mulching wet grass, forget about it. And shooting (side discharge) can get clogged as well. Moral of the story: just don't mow your grass when it's wet. But, I said I worked at a country club. In that case, you have to mow, rain or shine. I'd like to give homeowners a secret they could use to help them do what we did, but the answer is good old fashioned horsepower. You can chop damn near anything with hydraulic reels/rotors when you've got a 500cid diesel sitting behind you. STILL: Here are a couple of tricks for your yard at home. In very bad conditions, shoot it, go slow, and take half swaths. And if you want to 'mulch' while you shoot, start from the middle and work your way out. You'll 're-cut/chew up' that grass you've already cut. But I have to say it again: the ultimate solution is always going to be power.

[@friesm2000]

what's that saying........ you can never have enough HP..... and when you don't people bitch and moan

[@Texas_Cruiser]

Nicely put. That's really how I grew up cutting. Side shoot then go over it again half ways or even 2/3s which is in a sense mulching but with less strain on the mower. Yes more trips around but works for me.

[@avenqer]

I wonder if water repellent paint would help in that scenario or is the paint too weak/brittle and will get easily chipped off.

[@johnbailey9682]

Humm I live in the city and they have a separate can just for grass . I think you said people who live in the city had a problem getting rid of the grass not true. I mow 1 time a month with the bag the rest with out the bag. There is a thing called thatch you need to keep that under control as well. And a lot of people never take time to fertilize there yard . I allways take my time to mow weather it be bagging or not .

[@saemushailstorm3135]

a thing called 'thatch' - ROFL ; keep watching those tv shows

[@AngusNB]

It's not a problem in _your_ city. There is more than one city.