Best Overall
Rotary Blades for Deck/Craftsman/Poulan/Husqvarna
Best Bang For The Buck
MaxPower 21-Inch Universal Mulching Mower Blade
Upgrade Pick
8Ten LawnRAZOR Mulching Blades for MTD Cub Cadet
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Unlike standard mower blade , mulching blades are project to pushgrass clippingsinto the boxer with more flow of air . Many mulching blade also have teeth that slice through grass clump , break up cut grass into the bagger or onto the primer coat so they can make their way back into the filth .
Steve Sylva , owner ofSteve ’s Servicesin Malden , Massachusetts , has 25 years of experience in the lawn care industry , and we ask him to portion out some of his skilful cognition about mulching blade . “ Installing mulching blades increase the nutritionary value of your lawn by recycling grass clippings into natural fertilizer , ” he says . “ Not all mowers can use mulching blades , ” he monish . “ circular mowers typically mold best since the brand spin fast enough to thoroughly mulch clippings . Reel lawn mower miss the power and may block . ” He add that mulching kit can be installed on most standard rotary mowers to direct clipping under the pack of cards for recycling .
contribute mulching blade to an exist mower is a snap for any DIYer with asocket set . And while most are made for gas - powered mower , you could receive mulching blade to beseem an electric model as well . We researched several mulching brand and set down on the top six , our favorite being theRotary Blades for Deck / Craftsman / Poulan / Husqvarnafor their top execution and proficient value . Keep reading to ascertain more about this lawn mower accessory and see the respite of our top pick for the best mulching blade useable .
Our Top Picks
The espouse mulching blades for push - style , horseback riding , and electric lawn mower are durable , with child - tariff , and are sure to do an excellent problem of fall apart up ugly grass clumps that standard mulch blades for lawn mower leave behind .
For those look to level up their grass mulching game , this set of six mulching blades from Rotary could be just the just the ticket . This curing is project for any 48 - in lawn mower from Craftsman , Poulan , and Husqvarna thanks to its five - point star mounting hole .
These replacement blades are 16.75 column inch long by 2.5 inches wide by a hefty 0.204 inch dense . The serrated cut edge at the back of the lift will lead the cut Gunter Grass well into a packer , keep clipping off your lawn . But if you skip the bagger , these blade are probable to pass on a few clumps that might demand raking .
Get the circular mulching blades atAmazon .
MaxPower knows that not everyone has the time or patience to consult user manual and part numbers racket to find the precise model telephone number of their mulching mower . So they designed their nicely priced 21 - in universal mulching mower brand to accommodate any push lawn mower with a 21 - in deck of cards . The mounting hole is plan to fit over both five - pointedness stars and bowknot - tie beam of light , so user can establish this blade mulching model easily .
To make the unconscious process even smoother , all washer and fittings required for climb up on most fashion model are included . This 4 - inch - wide blade has a steep lift and , more importantly for mulching , earnestly aggressive dentition for crushing thumping . One caveat : This brand is durable enough to take a hit without bending , which means your mulching lawn mower ’s yield shot could get damage if you go over a stump or careen .
Get the MaxPower mulching blade atLowe’s , Tractor Supply Co. , orThe Home Depot .
If you ’re depend to upgrade the blade on a Cub Cadet or other MTD - made horseback riding lawn mower , converting it into a mulching rider mower , check out the LawnRazor mulching blade set . It’ss designed to fit 46 - column inch Cub Cadet deck of cards , with aggressive facelift and teeth to helpmake mulchingan easy endeavor . These blades are 23.25 inch long by 2.375 inches wide by 0.1875 inch thick , and their high - temp powder - coat paint will bolster their usable lifespan .
The LawnRazor set is n’t the thickest or most heavy - duty set on the list — and that comes with pro and cons . On the plus side , the blades will equal the revolutions per minute speed of a standard brand more closely , which is great for make flow of air under the direct and tossing clippings into a packer . The trade - off is that these blades may bend if they bump off a stump or tilt .
Photo: Romeo Lu/ Depositphotos.com
Get the 8Ten mulching blades atAmazonorWalmart .
Best for Riding Mower
Oregon G3 Gator Mulching Blade Set
If you ’re quick to put back the blades on your 54 - in Craftsman , Ariens , or Husqvarna horseback riding mower , take this band of Gator blades from Oregon , the best - know ship’s company in the lawn mower mulching vane market . The blade set is super heavy duty and durable , thanks to its 2.5 - inch breadth and 0.187 - inch thickness . The blades have an fast-growing facelift and a set of serrate dentition to break clumps up speedily and expeditiously .
Though they are n’t worldwide , if these Gator blade do fit out your model , swap them in is easy via the five - stop asterisk mounting hole . In fact , fully research your exemplar phone number to insure that these blades willfit — a common complaint is that they do n’t suit all 54 - in decks from the intended producer .
Get the Oregon G3 mulching blades atAmazon .
Photo: Amazon
Best for Leaves
Oregon Mulching Blade Gator G5 21-Inch for MTD Mowers
Oregon ’s G5 mulching blade , design for MTD - made push button lawn mower ( such as Troy - Bilt , Cub Cadet , and Bolens ) , gas the quality and durability of the company ’s other products . This 21 - inch model is the ideal thrust - mower mulching blade , as its 3 - column inch breadth and 0.164 - inch thickness mean striking a ambo or rock might not ruin the output tool .
This particular theoretical account tear up leave into tiny piece chop-chop , allow them to get around down on the lawn — a great pick if your yard has deciduous trees . However , if your 21 - inch MTD mower is older or underpowered ( like an off - the - shelf big - boxwood model might be ) , this steel might bog the engine down a scrap , despite its reduced sizing and heft .
Get the Oregon G5 mulching vane atAmazon , Northern Tool + Equipment , orWalmart .
Photo: Lowes
Best for Electric Mowers
EGO Power+ 21-Inch Lawn Mower High Lift Blade
While mostmulching lawn mowerblades are designed for gas - powered mower , this mellow - lift blade from Ego Power+ is intend for use on its 21 - inch push galvanizing mower . This model , although clear - tariff in design , is meant to create enough heave to transmit clippings into the bagger on the back of the lawn mower with mulching blade . It ’s unclouded than a distinctive mulching theoretical account , as the surplus weight would promptly drain the life of a battery - power manikin .
Though this blade is marketed as model - specific , a local office equipment workshop might be able-bodied to make it do work for an electric or shelling - power lawn mower of another firebrand by replacing the lawn mower ’s spike , or by drilling out the blade to fit . Beware , however , that modifying the steel will throw the warranty out the windowpane .
Get the Ego Power+ mulching steel atAmazon , Lowe ’s , orAce Hardware .
Photo: Amazon
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Chose theBest Mulching Blades
We researched the most sought - after selection in their several category and discovered that the best mulching blade are determined by their sizing , weighting , mount up type , compatibility with multiple mowers , and other special features included by select make .
Our top picks range from 21 - column inch to 54 - in blade with varying thickness to tackle humble or large outdoor undertaking and work with multiple mulching lawn mower available . While some have slender constructions that are meant for grass clippings andleaves , others are made duncish to withstand collisions with stumps or rocks and have gunpowder - coat blade finishes for long lifespans . This also coincides with the weight of each mulching blade as some are lightweight for small jobs or mowers while the heavier selection are suited for mowers that come with ample torsion .
Whether they sport cosmopolitan , bow - tie , five - principal , or six - star jump on muddle , many of the above picks have serrate tooth and high lift for leave-taking or both teetotal andwet smoke clippings , making them compatible with bagger . Finally , prime pick make out with multiple blades included to keep your grass and lawn in expert shape for years to amount .
Photo: Amazon
What to Consider When Choosing Mulching Blades
While professional landscapers are intimate with these hopped - up grass - shredders , mulch lawn mower blades will likely be a unexampled concept for many . Here are some things to consider before buy a mulching blade for your energy orriding mower .
Length
retentive story short : Having the correct distance mulching blade for your mower is important . Mowers and all of their part are design specifically for a certain length of the blade . Installing a too - small mulching blade will provide less than optimal results in three ways :
Lawn mower blade that are too bombastic will retard your lawn mower down well if they even fit under the pack of cards . You ’re also potential to cause more clumping due to the dull speed and the lack of space under the deck that the big blade create . Plus , a leaf blade that is too farsighted can be a chance , potentially collide with the lawn mower ’s body or another blade in a double- or ternary - blade mower deck .
Most lawn mowers exhibit their cut size on the side of the mower ( 22 inches , 48 in , etc . ) , so check your model to recover the appropriate duration . If it ’s not there , advert to the owner ’s manual under the replacement part incision .
Photo: Amazon
Weight
Mulching mower blades are considerably laborious than standard lawn lawn mower blades . They ’re thicker , and the conception of the more aggressive lift angle call for more material by nonpayment . Because of this , they may cause your mower to be given slower . Users with onetime horseback riding mowers may find that their mower require to procrastinate when engaging the deck of cards . The increased inactiveness of the mulching steel provides more underground than the mower was design for .
While this is a necessary evil in the mulching process , you may avert blade - induced bogging if you give up the mower before engaging the cutting deck of cards . This will reduce the amount of strain on the locomotive engine and , once the blade are up to speed , the machine should be able to function without complaint or sputter .
Number of Pieces
If you ’re looking to upgrade the grass blades on your sit lawn mower , you ’ll want to purchase a kit with the correct identification number of leaf blade . Most drive mowers have two or three blade , and all should be replace with matching vane for optimal mulching operation .
Replacing only one mulching blade is a bad idea for two reasons :
Fitment and Mounting
There are several different mounting fix styles on today ’s mower ; most commonly , five - point star , six - point maven , obeisance - tie , and general fit options . The spindle ( where the blade attache case ) under the mower deck is designed for one of the shapes listed above , and leaf blade matching the spindle should install with simplicity .
The easy installation methods tend to be the five - point and six - spot principal , as they only expect the user to take away one bolt . ecumenical kits are not always the secure option since they ’re not plan specifically for any specific lawn mower , but they do take the guesswork out of which blade is right for your lawn mower .
Durability
Mulching blade are more undestroyable than stock mowing blades due to their heaviness and design . That ’s an asset for mulch tantalise lawn mowers and commercial machines with knock - drive decks . For button mowers with verbatim - drive shafts , however , this durability can be a trouble . Here ’s why :
Ideally , regardless of mower style , seek to give your lawn a quick check before you start mowing to dispatch any obstructions or make a mental bank note of immovable obstructor . Lifting the deck height a mo will also avoid issues ; however , you ’ll desire to cut the lawn more often .
FAQs
Still have questions about mulching blade and which one is good for your motive ? Take a looking at at some of the most ofttimes asked interrogation — and their answers — below .
Mulching give up leaves to break down into organic plant food much faster , and it ’s less work for whoever is mowing . For those who hate rake and bagging leaves in the dip , mulching is undoubtedly the dependable solution . If you use a bagger , you ’ll be capable todump leafage bedding in a garden bedfor organic affair or past the woodline where they can break down into the ecosystem . Another option is to only rip up the leaves into leaf litter and go out them on the lawn . This looks a little mussy than bagging but can enrich the grunge over the course of the winter . As the small leaf corpuscle work their means between the blades of sens , they ’ll break down and leech nutrient into the dirt .
There are mulching vane useable formostmowers , but not all mower should have mulching blades installed . Underpowered manakin may not have the horsepower to spin a heavy mulching blade at an in effect speed , providing mixed results when swerve and mulching .
Photo: Amazon
you’re able to expend lawn mulching blades year - round . Most people who install mulching blades do n’t bother change them until they become too dull to turn out effectively , in which case they’llsharpen the brand .
Toothed lawn mower mulching blade chop grass clippings into okay pieces in addition to being able to handle denser grass ( when compare to nontoothed mulching blades ) . Toothed blades are not always true mulching blades , but they are good for mulching than mellow - cosmetic surgery blades .
According toOregon , the fin of the mulching blade should be pointed upward .
Photo: Pixels Away/ Depositphotos.com
Sylva says to avoid mow wet grass : “ It clump more easily and can stick to the bottom of the lawn mower . ” He also advises mowing with each grass growth , about one - third of the steel . “ Do n’t mulch newly seed lawns , ” he adds . “ And never use a mulching blade to mow fall leaves — they wo n’t mulch well and will stick to your mower . ”
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