[Darrell]

I have a Craftsman rotary mower. I think my turf is zoysia. I mow ever four days. I usually bag the clippings but will occasionally mulch them.

I need a new blade. What kind of blade should I get? Medium lift? High lift? Mulching? I'd prefer to not have to change the blades out often.

 

[Suburban Jungle Life]

If you find the lift isn't enough for your grass when mulching, discharge it and use a high lift blade. If your grass seems to stay upright and gets a good cut mulching, I'd go for a mulching blade. Mulching returns nutrients back to the lawn. Definitely a benefit there. Rotary mowers work better for lift when discharging or bagging. The air has to go somewhere...

 

[Darrell]

My mower does not have a side discharge capability. I can only bag or mulch. I've predominantly bagged in the past for no informed reason. I guess I thought bagging was "cleaner;" that is, wouldn' track clippings into the house as much.

 

[Ecks from Tex]

Mulching is free fertilization. If you mulch all year, you basically add the equivalent of another fert. application to your lawn.

 

[Darrell]

I mowed yesterday and bagged the clippings. Today I lowered the deck one notch, mowed again and mulched. Below are pics of the clippings visible on top of the turf after mowing. I also took a pic of the blade. I don't think it's a mulching blade.

When mulching, is it expected to have the clippings be visible after mowing? When they dry it dulls the appearance of the turf.

 

[Suburban Jungle Life]

Hmm. never seen a blade with holes. Interesting. There really isn't any kind of discharge on your mower?

 

[Spammage]

Hmm. never seen a blade with holes. Interesting. There really isn't any kind of discharge on your mower?

Comes from the Arnold dethatcher blade for rotary mowers.

 

[Darrell]

Hmm. never seen a blade with holes. Interesting. There really isn't any kind of discharge on your mower?

Comes from the Arnold dethatcher blade for rotary mowers.

Correct. Dethatcher blade minus the "fingers."

 

[Darrell]

Hmm. never seen a blade with holes. Interesting. There really isn't any kind of discharge on your mower?

The only discharge is a rear discharge into the bag. When not bagging, the rear door is closed for mulching.

 

[Ecks from Tex]

You should not have clippings like that on the ground for sure.

 

[TigerinFL]

when the grass is a little higher than I want or maybe I've had to skip a day or so because of rain, I can get those same types of trails with my Honda.

easiest way to get rid of them is taking the blower and walking right up to them and dispersing them. not the answer you were looking for but it does work.

 

[Darrell]

when the grass is a little higher than I want or maybe I've had to skip a day or so because of rain, I can get those same types of trails with my Honda.

easiest way to get rid of them is taking the blower and walking right up to them and dispersing them. not the answer you were looking for but it does work.

That does work. I do that.

Would getting a legit mulching blade help? I got these surface clippings cutting one day after the previous mowing.

 

[Sam23]

Yes you need to buy mulching blades if you have a mulching mower. You should not have clippings remaining as pictured. Also make sure you put the blade on correctly. My Craftsman blade designates right on the blade which side faces the grass.

 

[Darrell]

I ordered a mulching blade from Craftsman (actually a Craftsman blade on Amazon). I'll let you know how it goes.

Something I've been meaning to ask - why is the cutting edge on rotary blades so short? Seems like they are only the distal 1/3 or 1/4 of the blade.

 

[Sam23]

@Darrell Did you look up blade part number on Sear's Parts Direct website?

https://www.searspartsdirect.com/?SID=MerchSearsxHSTopNavPartsDirect

Just enter the model number of your mower and click on the appropriate graphic. Once you have the part number you can order it from any source.

I do not know the question about the blade you asked.

 

[Darrell]

@Darrell Did you look up blade part number on Sear's Parts Direct website?

https://www.searspartsdirect.com/?SID=MerchSearsxHSTopNavPartsDirect

Just enter the model number of your mower and click on the appropriate graphic. Once you have the part number you can order it from any source.

I do not know the question about the blade you asked.

Yep. I hope it's the one. It's an old mower.

 

[Darrell]

At sears direct, only one blade comes up. It does not say "mulching," just "lawnmower blade." Amazon describes it as a mulching blade.

 

[Sam23]

At sears direct, only one blade comes up. It does not say "mulching," just "lawnmower blade." Amazon describes it as a mulching blade.

Whats the part number?

 

[Krooz]

My snapper will do that if I let the grass get too long or I mow too fast, especially the too fast part....

 

[Darrell]

At sears direct, only one blade comes up. It does not say "mulching," just "lawnmower blade." Amazon describes it as a mulching blade.

Whats the part number?

189028