Every lawn care professional will tell you that the best mulching blades will provide your lawn with the nutrients it needs. If you are after that lush, green look in your yard, mulching blades are a must.
The Best Mulching Blades for Your Mower
Mulching allows you to recycle nutrients back to the soil for consumption by grass after mowing. When the clippings decompose, they enrich the soil enormously.
The 3-in-1 mowing blade comes in handy for carrying leaves and grass mulching. It is called the 3-in-1 blade because beyond cutting grass, this type of blades can bag, discharge, or mulch the grass clippings. This is an upgrade over standards blades (2-in-1 blades), which are designed to cut the grass and either bag or discharge the clippings.
Here are our top picks for the the best rated mulching blades on the market.
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1. USA Mower Blades – Model AYP340BP Mulching Blade
Designed for use in a wide variety of mowers that have a 42” deck, the USA Mower Blades are some of the best mulching blades on the market. The blades are thin without compromising on hardiness and longevity. With a large cutting surface, the pre-sharpened blades work well on wet and dry grass.
Pros
- Easy to fit and install
- Compatible with numerous mowers with a 42” deck
- Exceptional quality
Cons
- Not ideal for heavy-duty mulching
2. Oregon G3 Gator Mulching Blades
The Oregon G3 blades are designed and manufactured for performance and durability in 54” deck mowers. With each blade undergoing austempered heat-treatment, they are 20% harder than regular steel. This gives the blades a longer life. The hardier material also ensures the blades can hold up to a wide variety of challenging conditions.
Pros
- High-quality and durable (Made in the USA)
- Pocket friendly
- Can withstand challenging conditions (e.g. sandy lawns)
- Correct fitment
- Sharp blades
Cons
- Does not fit well on 6-leg star mounting spindle
3. Maxpower 331981B 21-Inch Universal Mulching Mower Blade
A universal replacement for 21-inched decks, the Maxpower 331981B has been optimized for mulching. For instance, the blades have an increased cutting surface for finer chipping shredding. It also comes with a set of sharpened cutting teeth, which improve the shredding of grass blades. Given the fact that it has been designed for a universal fit on 21” decks, Maxpower 331981B is one of the best mulchers.
Pros
- Universal fit means you can use it on a wide variety of mowers
- Uniform chopping distribution
- Coated for durability
- Quality mower mulching blade
Cons
- Does not fit readily with star adapters
4. Arnold Universal Mulching Blade
Arnold has a storied past in this niche market. With 50 years of experience, the company has accrued the experience and the expertise required to develop high-quality products. And they do not fail with these mulching blades. The blades are perfectly suited for use in the domestic environment. They also feature a unique cutting surface for ultrafine shredding. It also comes with a variety of sizing washers and cover washers.
Pros
- Universal fit means you can use the blade on a wide variety of mowers
- Easy to install
Cons
- The lightweight blades cannot withstand tremendous abuse
Mulching Blades FAQ’s
Are Mulching Blades Better?
There is no straight answer to this question. Whether a mulching blade is better than the 2-in-1 blade will depend on what you want to achieve and how often you care for your lawn. For instance, if your goal is to mulch the clippings, a mulching blade is better in every way.
The best mulching blades will reduce your mulching workload and the energy cost incurred during mowing. After all, manufacturers design mulching blades with mulching as the primary function. If you do not want to mulch the clippings, however, the standard 2-in-1 blades will suffice to meet your needs.
Moreover, you should only use the mulching blade if you mow your lawn regularly (every 3 or 4 days). Using a mulching blade on overgrown grass can cause clogging under the mower deck and lead to ineffective mulching. There is a potential for getting lamps or piles of clippings rather than getting an even layer of clippings across your yard when you try to mulch overgrown lawns.
Can You Use Regular Blades For Mulching?
The 2-in-1 mowing blade is not designed for mulching. The blades are designed to cut grass and produce a powerful lift for extracting the clippings from under the deck. The blades are not intended to create a swirl that circulates clipping under the deck for multiple cuts as is the case with mulching blades.
Do Mulching Blades Work On Leaves?
In a nutshell, yes! The typical design of mulching mower blades is optimized for mulching more than working on grass. The 3-in-1 mowing blades have a distinct and specialized shape and form factor that works to cut and mulch the grass and leaves.
Mulching blades have several unique design features that make leaf mulching possible. The most noticeable part that mulching blades have compared to standard blades is their particular shape that combines with a high angle to create a swirling airstream under the deck. The swirling airstream sucks the clippings and leaves up to the deck. As the leaves and grass clippings swirl around the deck, the blade cuts them several times into small pieces before being discharged.
Other features of mulching mower blades include enhanced impact resistance and higher fatigue strength. Not only do these qualities allow the blade to last longer, but they also enhance the blade’s ability to mulch tough leaves. Finally, the design of the blades makes them inherently thicker, allowing manufactures to make the blades even sharper. This, in turn, makes it easier for the mulching mower blades to chop up tough debris such as leaves.
That being said, it is essential to note that the mulching wet, heavy leaves might be problematic, depending on the power of the mower and the design of the mulching blade. When faced with particularly heavy leaves, you will need to make multiple cutting passes to shred the leaves to ever-smaller sizes before bagging.
There you have it! Our top picks for the best mulching blades on the market.
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