Best Mulch Lawn Mowers

Last Update: December, 2023

You might have grown up with the traditional type of lawn mower many people are used to. One with a large bag that fills up with grass clippings fairly quickly. Most people would just dump the clippings, but it can be tiring to empty the bag all the time. Beyond that, those clippings can be beneficial for your lawn.
If you have a mulching lawn mower, you will be able to get rid of your grass and have a healthy yard all at once.

More About The Greenworks 16-Inch 40V

Beyond the sleek look of the Greenworks mower, it includes multiple tools to help you get your yard work done. This electric mower has a battery and charger, along with a height adjustment option. Set the height of the grass that you want to depend on where you're mowing. With the ability to both mulch and bag, you can get a lot of usage out of this mower.
You get a lot of charge out of this mower as well. Cut 400 square meters on a single charge and get an even cut for all types of grass. This electric mower does work best on small to medium-sized yards, especially with the 16-inch cutting deck, but it can be used on any terrain. The large wheels make it simple to maneuver around.

More About The Honda HRR216K9VKA

This Honda reel mower is made to chop your grass extra-thin with the micro cut twin blades, which can be set to work at variable speeds. Use the bag or mulch depending on what you need for your lawn care routine. You don’t need any tools or attachments to get your yard work done.
You do need to pull a cord to use this mower, but the engine is made to be easy to start. The whole mower is CARB and EPA-compliant. What is even better is that it’s able to fold away for easy storage. Grab onto the foam grip handles, keep your grip tight, and get to mowing around your yard. Just make sure to shut off the fuel after you cut the engine.

More About The ​Lawn-Boy 17732

The Lawn-Boy is made to work on even the hilliest of yards, with the superior traction system. You’ll have a lot of control as you push it along, both with the wheels and the 2-point height-of-cut system. Adjust the cutting heights from the side of the mower to get the grass at just the right length.
You'll need to start the Lawn-Boy with one or two pulls. According to the company, if two pulls don't start it, they'll fix it for free. Starting your lawn mower shouldn't be a workout, and neither should pushing your mower. The OHV engine will do all the work for you as you choose between mulching, bagging, or side discharge as you go along.

More About The ​Snapper XD 82V MAX

The Snapper is an electric mower that has up to 45 minutes of run time with its Lithium-ion battery. Charge it using the rapid charger as you take a short break between mowing parts of your yawn. When you're all finished, it's easy to store thanks to the compact vertical storage capability.
The 19-inch steel mowing deck includes a 3-in-1 design. It lets you mulch, bag, or side discharge when you’re mowing, without worrying either. Thanks to the smart load-sensing technology of the Snapper, the power will adjust to meet the demands of the cutting blades no matter what height of the cut you have.

More About The ​Greenworks 18-Inch 12 Amp

This Greenworks mower has the signature green color, not to mention a small size that would be easy to store anywhere. Don’t let the size fool you. This little mower has a powerful 12-amp electric motor that can cut through even the toughest grass, especially with the durable steel 18-inch cutting deck.
Use this mower to either discharge clippings out the side or to mulch right as you mow. You have 7 different heights to choose from, not to mention 7-inch front wheels to maneuver around your flower beds and hills as efficiently as ever.

What Mulching Is ?

Basically, mulching is recirculating and re-cutting the grass clippings that you would throw out. The clippings move underneath the mowing deck where they are returned to the lawn to decompose into the soil.
As a fertilizer, mulch helps your garden grow, plus it has less of an impact on the environment. It's also easier for you, since you don't need to find a place to dispose of all the cut grass on your own. This is because you mulch as you go.

Things to Check When Choosing a Mulch Lawn Mower

Not all mulch lawn mowers are the same. To help you find the very best lawn mower for your needs, we have put together this handy checklist of important features to consider.

Type of Mulching Technology

The thing that really sets a mulching mower apart from other lawn mowers on the market right now is its ability to finely mulch and redistribute grass clippings across the lawn. This is responsible for feeding and fertilizing the grass as you go, so you have a healthier, greener lawn in the long run. 

Your lawn mower should have a fast, high-quality mulching blade that finely chops and distributes grass clippings as you go. The more powerful the mulching blade is, the healthier it will be for your lawn.

Power Type

Mulching lawn mowers come in gas-powered, corded, or cordless electric models. The best type for you depends on the size of your lawn and your preferences. In general, an electric lawn mower, either corded or cordless, will be quieter, more efficient and easier to handle.

Electric mowers can be great for smaller lawns and outdoor spaces. A gas-powered mulching mower, on the other hand, will be much more powerful and capable of tackling a larger space faster. If you have a big lawn, gas-powered is probably the way to go.

Adjustable Features

For the most versatility, especially if you have a larger lawn space to mow, you should look for a mulching lawn mower that has adjustable features – giving you complete control over the quality of your lawn.

Variable speed is one super important feature. If you can adjust the speed of your mulching mower, you can get different sizes and qualities of mulch – this is really helpful for a lawn care expert who wants to feed the grass, without suffocating it.

Cutting Deck Width

The cutting width, or width of your cutting deck, determines how much grass a lawn mower can trim in a single motion. A wider deck allows you to cover more area, faster – but wider lawn mowers are also heavier and harder to steer around tight corners. 

If you have a small lawn with a lot of corners or tight spaces, you should look for a thinner cutting width. For big lawns or fields, a wider cutting deck will help you to get the job done faster.

How Mulching Differs from Bagging

A lot of common lawn mowers use bagging, not a mulching method. That means that as you mow, the grass clippings are collected in an onboard bag to be emptied out later. Mulching mowers, on the other hand, redistribute clippings across your lawn as a side discharge or underneath the mower as you go.

There are a few benefits to the bagging method. For one, it leaves your lawn leaving spotless after you have mowed it – a lot of people don’t like the look of grass clippings sitting on the freshly mowed lawn.

Bagging your grass clippings also allows you to use them as fertilizer somewhere else, like in a home garden – or you can redistribute them by hand across your lawn, so that they are not as noticeable.

That said, most lawn care experts say that mulching is a better option for your lawn than bagging. When you mow your lawn with a mulching mower, the mulching blade finely chops the grass clippings and discharges them back onto the lawn.

This provides the grass with crucial vitamins and nutrients it needs to grow and stay healthy – in fact, mulching can account for up to 1/3 of your annual feeding requirements for your lawn. That means 1/3 less work year-round to keep your lawn healthy and beautiful.

Benefits of Using a Mulch Lawn Mower

A mulch lawn mower is better for your lawn, and easier for you. Mulching the grass clippings helps to allow the nutrients to absorb back into the soil more easily – just redistributing bagged grass clippings alone won’t have the same effect. Additionally, you can add leaves and other plant matter to your mulch for a richer, more diverse fertilizer. 

Nitrogen is crucial for healthy grass growth. The average lawn needs about four pounds of nitrogen every year – without meeting that requirement you might see grass growing in spotty or in patches.

A mulching mower helps you to meet that requirement without any extra costs, or any unnecessary chemical fertilizers. Mulching also helps to improve the biodiversity of the soil, giving you healthy grass growth for years to come.

Not only is mulching great for a healthy lawn, it also makes lawn care a little easier. With a mower that distributes mulch as side discharge, you are able to mow and feed your lawn all in one easy step. There is no need to go back over and distribute fertilizer or grass clippings after you have already mowed.

Conclusion

Landscaping, gardening, and lawn care experts agree – a mulching mower is the best way to help your lawn grow and thrive naturally. They also save you a ton of time and energy by bringing mowing and feeding together into one easy step. 

The best mulching lawn mower for you will depend on the size of your lawn. For a smaller lawn, an electric model with a small cutting width could be perfect. For a larger lawn, you may want a wider, gas-powered model to help you tackle the job faster.

Whatever model you pick, the best mulching lawn mower is a great step toward a healthier lawn.