Collect or Mulch your lawn with Cub Cadet, Honda & STIHL

Mulching is somewhat seasonal and is best done during the warmer spring and summer months. Unfortunately, we do not have the temperatures or humidity in our soils for year-round mulching. The Irish climate is not ideally suited to continuous mulching due to the amount of rain we get across the country, so now is the time!

Should I Mulch My Lawn?

Many experts would argue that mulching is the best method of cutting your grass. It saves both your time and energy as you will not need to stop and start your mower to empty the grass collector. When you collect your grass clippings you must stop to empty the back, then load the clippings and haul them into a compost pile. After all your hard work, seeing a pile of rotting grass laying around can be a bit disheartening. Large piles of grass left sitting on your lawn can also cause rot, killing the grass underneath.

How does it work?

Grass clippings contain about 90% of water as well as many natural elements like iron, calcium and magnesium, why waste them? These nutrients are key to creating a healthier and more productive lawn.

A mulching blade differs from a collection blade as the mulching blade will cut and then re-cut the grass clippings into tiny particles. This act of recycling the grass clippings will then aid in protecting the grass below, conserving soil moisture and maintaining the soil temperature.

Within hours of being cut, the mulch will begin to decompose and deposit key nutrients back into the lawn which will then decompose further down into the soil and encourage healthy growth.

If you return from a holiday to find your grass overgrown, use the rule of thirds from last week’s product of the week. Remove a third of the overall length of the lawn, then lower the deck and repeat the process. This will allow you to achieve a greater finish as the grass clippings will be evenly mulched and distributed. Grass clippings do not cause thatch.

What are the benefits of Mulching?

1. Mulching your lawn will improve the overall texture and content of the soil making it look healthy and green.
2. You will see a visible reduction in diseases and thatch as a result of the nutrients that mulching provides.
3. The steady supply of nutrients which mulching can provide is much more beneficial than the occasional dose of chemical fertilisers.
4. With the new style mulching lawnmowers there are no more trips to the compost heap or the dump. These mowers operate on a system which recycles the clippings as you mow.
5. You will save time by not having to repeatedly reverse to the grass compost heap to unload.

*Top Tip From Our Experts: It’s always a good idea to remove the clippings from the lawn at the beginning and end of the growing season when decomposition is slower than usual.

At ISE Forest and Garden we stock a vast selection of quality mulching mowers and our team of garden machinery experts are always on hand to answer any questions you may have.

Should I Collect grass clippings?

Some users enjoy the clean, slick appearance of collecting the grass clippings. There is a much better appeal because no clumps of grass are visible. In some instances, collecting the grass clippings is much easier than watching everyone drag it through the home while it is stuck to their shoes, or trying to wash grass stains off of children’s clothes.

If you prefer to mow your lawn less frequently then collecting is the method for you as your grass clippings will be considerably longer. The large volume of grass left sitting on the lawn would sit stagnant on the grass and cause harm.

How does it work?

Collect lawnmowers will discharge the clippings out of the rear of the machine where it will then be collected in the rear collection bag. Once the bag is full you will have to empty it and dispose of the clippings. Some people will dispose of these clippings in a compost bin, a yard waste container, a compost heap or dispose of them with the rest of your household waste.

What are the benefits of Collecting?

1. Using a grass collector means you are guaranteed a clean and tidy finish.
2. Due to the damp weather we experience here in Ireland, wet grass clippings can be a nuisance as they can get stuck to your shoes causing a mess and can even create green stains on clothes.
3. Some grass collectors are fitted with rollers or offer roller attachments. These create immaculate stripes down your lawn for that professional finish.
4. Although mulching does return much needed nutrients into the lawn it is weather dependent as it can aid in the growth of moss during damp periods.

*Top Tip From Our Experts: If you see signs of lawn disease be sure to start collecting your grass clippings instead of mulching as you do not want the disease to spread. Keep your mower blade sharp and mow regularly so your clippings do not get too long. Avoid mowing when the grass is wet as wet grass tends to clump together more easily.

Choosing your lawnmower

It can be overwhelming trying to find the best mulching lawnmower to suit your needs due to the sheer amount of products on the market. Some high quality brands that are known for their mulching capabilities are STIHL, Honda and Cub Cadet.

When you are choosing a lawnmower it is important to note that side and rear discharge mowers are somewhat incomparable with collectors and mulchers as these mowers have the ability to cut large amounts of grass without straining the machine or having to constantly empty the grass bag.

1. Cub Cadet LT2 NR92 Ride on Mower 16hp 36" (Small- Medium)

The Cub Cadet LT2 NR92 Direct Collect Tractor is a 92cm / 36" cutting width tractor, with a Cub Cadet engine. This tractor features a hydrostatic gearbox allowing both the speed control and the forward and reverse all to be operated from one foot pedal.

The deck is a twin bladed design, meaning the two blades contra-rotate, working together as part of the direct collect system to drive the grass directly into the grass box ensuring excellent collection, even in difficult conditions. The grass box is easily emptied from the seat and holds an impressive 240 litres of grass. This garden tractor is ideal for small to medium sized gardren areas between one and two acres.

2. Honda HF2417 HME Ride on Mower 17hp 40" (Medium- Large)

The Honda HF 2417 is fitted with a timing belt that maintains a synchronised 90° angle between the blades. This results in improved cutting with less uncut areas, even when turning. The reduced vibrations create a smoother ride and an optomised air flow which improving grass collection and mulching.

Honda’s Optiflow grass collection system reduces power loss and the acumilation of dust by combining powerful suction and a constant flow of air, to completely fill the grass bag.

This Honda ride on mower offers the best of both worlds thanks to Versamow™ selective mulching. Use a single lever to choose whether you want to collect grass cuttings into the bag or Mulch and finely shred and blow them into the lawn for a natural fertiliser.

Roto-stop® blade stop system is ideal when you need to empty the grass bag, clear debris, or traverse paths and driveways.

3.STIHL RT5112 T5 Ride On Lawmower Ride On Lawmower (Medium- Large)

The STIHL RT5112 T5 stands out in terms of grass collection due to its extra wide chute and powerful 23hp engine.

The Impressive grass catcher box has a huge volume and can be emptied effortlessly from the comfort of your seat. The "dumper" design ensures optimum filling and residual-free emptying of the grass catcher box. Cleaning can also be performed with ease.

The lever for central adjustment is located directly next to the driver's seat to enable individual adjustment of the cutting height in up to eight steps. The synchronous mowing deck provides for consistent cutting quality and optimum grass transport to the ejection chute. This is made possible by the synchronised rotation of the blades, which are offset by 90°.

The catching management system on both sides of the mowing deck provides for optimal gathering of the grass blades across the entire working width. It guides the grass to the mowing blades.

4. Honda HF2625 HME Ride on Mower 25hp 48" (Medium- Large)

The Honda HF2625 HME ha excellent grass collection capabilities due to a fan assisted deck & extra wide chute. Similarly to the Honda HF2417 HME, this model is also fitted with a timing belt that maintains a synchronised 90° angle between the blades which improves both grass collection and mulching.

Honda’s Optiflow grass collection system reduces power loss and the acumilation of dust by combining powerful suction and a constant flow of air, to completely fill the grass bag.

Versamow™ selective mulching allows the user to use a single lever to choose whether you want to collect grass into the bag or Mulch and finely shred and blow them into the lawn for a natural fertiliser.

5. STIHL RT 6127 ZL Ride on Mower (Large)

The STIHL RT 6127 ZL captures people’s attention due to its versatility as it can collect, mulch and use rear discharge. The lever to adjust the deck cutting height is located directly next to the driver's seat. It enables individual adjustment of the cutting height in up to eight steps.

While the cutting width of the lawn tractor offers fast and efficient mowing, the synchronous mowing deck, simple to adjust cutting height adjustment and catching management system collectively ensure a high-quality finish to your lawn.

The synchronous mowing deck also features in the STIHL RT 6127 ZL and Grass collection is second to none thanks to a powerful 23hp engine and extra wide chute. The clippings are collected in the 350-litre capacity polymer grass catcher box which has a "dumper" style design to ensure all clippings are emptied. Thanks to the adjustable grass level indicator you always know when it is time to empty the catcher box.

A Word From The ISE Team

Here at ISE Forest and Garden we care about the safety of each and every one of our customers. We ask our customers to always be aware of the safety features of your ride on lawnmowers. As always, the team here at ISE Forest and Garden are here keep you well informed every week.

For more information click the models below:

1. Cub Cadet LT2 NR92 Ride on Mower 16hp 36"
2. Honda HF2417 HME Ride on Mower 17hp 40"
3. STIHL RT5112 T5 Ride On Lawmower
4. Honda HF2625 HME Ride on Mower 25hp 48"
5. STIHL RT 6127 ZL Ride on Mower

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