Tis the season–to start mowing again. But with mowing comes grass clippings which can have an impact on the health of your yard. You should consider what kind of lawnmower blades you should use throughout the spring and summer. It’s vital to know so that you can make the most out of this weekly chore.
In this article, we'll discuss the various kinds of blades, their purposes, and why the lift is important in considering which one to use.
Types of Mower Blades
Standard Blades
Most lawnmowers come with standard blades, which are straight blades with very minimal curvature at each end. These blades can get the job done, especially if you’re going to be cutting your grass at regular intervals that there are minimal clippings.
These blades create a moderate level of lift, which means that it will suck the grass clippings from the ground. Then, the blades will discharge them out of the side of the deck. These blades are often referred to as 2-in-1 blades.
Low Lift Blades
These blades are recommended for side discharging decks and sandy locations. These blades create a lower amount of lift. This allows grass to still be collected, but lower to the ground.
If you have no intention to collect the cut grass for alternative disposal methods of mulching, this may be a better choice over standard blades.
High Lift Blades
Unlike standard and low lift blades, high lift blades are designed to suck up the chopped grass and blow it into a bag. High lift blades are great for mulching purposes. Alternatively, they can be great for when you want your yard to look pristine and to dispose of those grass clippings in another manner.
These blades are more curved than standard and low lift blades in order to maximize lift.
Mulching blades are designed to create a lot of lift as well as chop the grass into smaller pieces. This is so that it can fall to the ground easier rather than dust the top of the cut grass. Manufacturers made them so that you can cut your grass and effectively mulch your yard at the same time.
Mulching vs Non-Mulching Blades
The most significant difference between mulching and non-mulching blades is how the grass is cut, collected, and then distributed back into the yard or into a bag.
Non-mulching blades pull the grass up and cut it. Then, depending on the level of lift, they spit it out. These blades are also ideal if you’re wanting to collect other yard debris such as leaves, pine needles, and other forms of debris.
Mulching blades, on the other hand, pull the grass up and cut it. Then once it is cut, the lift pulls the clipped grass up where it continues to be chopped a number of times before being distributed back into the yard or into a bag. It is the extra level of chopping that these 3-in-1 blades provide that make it more versatile.
Conclusion
You can’t go wrong with any of these blades. However, you should carefully consider what you would like happen to all of those grass clippings in order to make the most use out of your electric lawnmower.
