Looking for a new lawn mower? Then you landed on the right page, we are going to review the top 10 best mulching lawn mowers for you today. You need to first learn about why mulching technique is required & how is it the best method to nourish your garden.
According to researchers, the grass clipping holds 80 to 85% of water & 5% nitrogen content in them, which eventually makes them perfect for providing nutrients for the rooted grass. But your normal lawn mower will take away all the nutrient-full clippings and throw these beauties into garbage. What a waste, right?
Mulching technique is simple, it says “don’t trash the gold”. Yes, the clippings are gold for your lawn and making sure that your garden gets the best out of everything is your duty. Small clippings of that extra length grass are food for the coming nature’s carpet, no other technique can provide as much nutrients as this technique can. After all, no one can take care of nature better than herself. Mulching Lawn Mowers can save them all for you and spread the clippings evenly in the garden for an even growth everywhere.
Do all mulching mowers perform the same? NO! And that’s the reason you are here. Different mowers mulch differently for you, depending on various types, features, blade size, power and what not? Let’s discuss about the mulching lawn mowers in detail.
How to Choose the Best Lawn Mower?
Practically there is no definition of “best”. What fits your budget & requirements is best for you, which might not be the same for other. The more you spend on your mower, the better performance, durability, power, and versatility you will fetch.
To pick the best of all lawn mowers available in the market, you must know what type, fuel and size of mower will suit your lawn garden. Let’s go one by one.
Type of the mower
Mowers for this purpose comes in 2 riding types, Walk & Ride-on.
With Walk Mowers, you are supposed walk behind the mower to mulch your garden all the time. Walk mowers are the most common machine you will find around you, they are easily to manage and pocket friendly too. This type of mowers is recommended for those who have garden size 1/5th acre or less.
Ride-on Mowers are also known as Lawn Tractors, because of the simple fact that they look pretty similar to actual field tractors. You are supposed to sit on the mower and ride it with steering on it. Generally, these ride-on mowers are more powerful than the walk mowers and hence requires less time to complete the task. Lawn tractors are recommended only if your garden size is at least 1/4th acre or more, because then only you can find it cost effective than the walk mowers, as these comes with hefty price tags.
Fuel selection matters
Lawn mowers comes with two fuel options, those are gasoline & electricity.
Gasoline Mowers: Engine of these gasoline powered mowers comes down in the price list but creates too much noise. So, if you don’t want to irritate your neighbors in the Sunday morning, this option is not made for you. These gas-powered lawn movers are generally heavier than that of electric and hence less safe around minors to operate.
Electric Engine Mowers: Electric lawn movers are light in weight and are more on the automation side with latest features. Lawn mowers are more successful in electric versions only, because they are safe and perfect for small gardens and they create least noise with no pollution at all. Here, we have two options in electric machine, first is cordless, which are obviously much more convenient but comes with a price tag on higher side, the second one is wired, with wire length of 50-100 ft, feasible for small lawn garden with 1500 ft or less.
After this much of knowledge, you may get confused about picking the right lawn mower for mulching purposes. So, we will recommend you the best mulching lawn mowers based on the hardcore principle “pay less and get more”. Top 10 mulching lawn mowers with high efficiency and lower price tags will be reviewed here so that you can choose the best suited machine for yourself according to all personal and technical grounds.
Width of the blade
The width of lawn mowers blade decides the amount of grass cutting in a rotation, that simply means, bigger the blade more the grass cutting. But that does not mean that you should always go for a bigger blade every time. You can choose from 14-inch to 18-inch blades, they work perfectly for lawn gardens. And it is highly recommended to pick the size of the blades of your mulching lawn mower according to the size of your garden. Use the formula, width of the blades is directly proportional to the size of your garden.
Height Adjustment
Yes, we have recommended only those best mulching lawn mowers to you which comes with height adjustment of blades, that means you can decide the height of your grass bed. This adjustment option allows you to mark height differences on the places you want, and if you are too good with the steering, you can make some interesting shapes for yourself.
In general, the range of grass height starts from 0.5 inch to 2.5 inch. And you can go as close as 0.1 inch to leave the grass strand as long as 4 inches, depends on your choice.
Weight & Size
We can’t say much about size, as the lawn mower grows more powerful, they need a bigger space for its engine and how much power would you need? That depends on the size of garden you are having. However, we recommend you pick the smallest possible law mower according to your power required, as it will take less space in your garage when not in use.
For weight, we straight away suggest you pick the lightest one, because moving around with a heavier machine in hand is too tiring than a lighter one. And if somehow you are bound to pick a heavy machine, go for big wheels at least. Big wheels will help you to move around bigger grass more easily.
Power and Durability
Generally, the lawn mowers offered are either 11 amps or 13 amps, obviously the higher one will perform better but then, it will consume more fuel than the lighter one for sure. So, pick according to your need and the time you are going to take in mulching the garden.
Find the most durable is the most Lehman job of all, the brand giving more on warranty is the most durable. Yes, it ends here only. Because that’s a pretty difficult task to find the sturdiest one by just checking on the outer body, they all look almost same.
Top 10 Best Mulching Lawn Mowers
1. MO40B411 G-MAX 40V 17 in. 2-in-1 Mower with 4Ah Battery and Charger
Brand: Greenworks
Power: 4 AH – 40V Lithium Battery
The product is non-noisy, easy to use, and best-cutting experience in all seasons and environment, this machine is lightweight and versatile, this machine comes with a chargeable battery that is easy to use in a go for a small lawn.
This Lawnmower comes with a strong battery, 5 level cutting adjustment, single blade, rear mulching, bagging, and storage bag.
Features
- 4 AH – 40V Lithium Battery
- 17-inch deck
- Long-Lasting battery
- Micro cutting with a single blade
2. American Lawn Mower Company 50514 14-Inch 11-Amp Corded Electric Lawn Mower
Brand: American Lawn Mower Company
Power: 11-Amp motor
This is an eco-friendly substitute for the gas-powered lawnmowers, this is one of the best products for small lawn owners it gives reliable and durable cutting experience, it has a push-button start, adjustable handles, and a powerful motor which can easily complete the tough mowing tasks.
This is easy to use, lightweight, adjustable grass handling, and it also has a grass bag with the grass level indicator and 14-inch steel blade. The functionalities also include a mulching system and side discharge.
Features
- High competence brushless powerful 11-amp motor
- Dense and slim frame with folding grips
- 16 Gal. grass bag with grass level indicator
- The corded electric power which needs no gas or power to operate
3. Sun Joe 24V-X2-17LM 48-Volt 17-Inch Mulching Walk-Behind Lawn Mower
Brand: Sun Joe Mower
Power: 48V POWER: 2x 4. 0 Ah batteries
This Product is a perfect fit for small to medium lawns with an adjustable deck that goes up to 3 different manual height adjustments, also this comes with a battery-powered mower’s durable steel blade cuts, also this comes with two 24-Volt, 4.0 Ah lithium-ion batteries to give you a powerful experience,
Also, it comes with Easy-glide wheels for maximum mobility, a lawn waste collection bag, and a high-quality cutting blade to give up to 17-inch mulching.
Features
- Dual-port charger for 24-Volt, 4.0 Ah lithium-ion batteries
- Manual height adjustments up to 6 levels
- Easy-glide wheels for a long-lasting experience
- Grass collection bag
4. Greenworks 18-Inch 12 Amp Corded Electric Lawn Mower 25012
Brand: Greenworks
Power: 12 AMP corded electric mower
This product is a powerful, and does not release harmful gases as it is an electric handy mower which is very light weight and comfortable for small to average sized lawns, this mower is not self-propelled but it is not an issue as it is actually very lightweight, the gas stations walks has come to an end as it is a electric device.
It can cut any type of grass with its tough and efficient 18-inch cutting deck and steel blades, this product is a true value for money.
Features
- 18-inch powerful cutting deck
- 12 AMP corded electric power mode
- 7 level cutting adjustments for handy experiences on height
- 7-inch front and back wheel
5. Craftsman M275 159cc 21-Inch 3-in-1 High-Wheeled Self-Propelled FWD Gas Powered Lawn Mower
Brand: Craftsman
Power: 159 CC
Pick this product if you are looking to save on time, as this is the most time efficient machine of the segment. With a wide range of 1.25 to 3.75 inches of cutting height, this lawn mower is all set to surprise you with its versatility. You can opt for full cut too, along with other 5 additional cutting range options.
You can choose to mulch or catch as per your need with the same machine, this mower is beautifully designed so that you can move with it in the lawn almost effortlessly. You would love to move around more with this mower, but it won’t let you, it completes the task very quickly, remember?
Features
- Multipurpose, bagger + mulcher
- Supports mulching, side discharge and rear discharge.
- Power engine for seamless and fast working.
- Perfect weight distribution for less fatigue.
6. Snapper XD 82V MAX Cordless Electric 19” Push Lawn Mower
Brand: Snapper
Power: Add 82V Li ion battery
This lawn mower comes full cordless with support of 2 Briggs and Stratton batteries, and the run is around 90 minutes, which is practically more than enough. You can easily end up all your mulching or cleaning works before the batteries run out of juice. Rapid charger comes handy with the product for charging the mower again for the duties.
Snapper XD comes with huge 19 inch of blades and an option of 21-inch blade is available for separate purchase. You can also adjust the height on 7 different levels. Convenience has a new name and that surely resembles with Snapper.
Features
- Cordless and free roaming machine
- 7 options for height adjustment
- Powerful batteries with huge 90 minutes of backup
- Easy to store and stack in close spaces, Vertical stacking
7. Powerworks XB 40V 21” Brushless Cordless Push Mower
Brand: Powerworks
Power: 40V Brushless motor
This gardening pack comes with powerful 40V brushless motor for seamless and almost quite performance. Talking about the battery life, this machine tops the chart with the most efficient and long-life battery pack.
This lawn mower comes with 3 options of blade i.e. 14”, 17”, & 21”. You can choose the best fit for yours according to your garden size. This is a 3 in 1 machine, completing all the tasks like mulching, side discharging and bagging.
Features
- 40V Brushless motor with long life batteries
- 7 options for height adjustment
- 3 in 1 operational machine
- Durable steel blade options
8. Worx WG743 40V PowerShare 4.0Ah 17” Lawn Mower
Brand: Worx
Power: 2 x 20V batteries
This compact lawn mower is made with patent intelligent technology which generates torque on demand. This feature makes the Worx WG743 stand out from the list and makes it the most powerful machine in such compact design. Cutting edge comes sharp as result after the blade completes its operation.
Worx has made this lawn mower easy to handle for beginners too, now you can check the battery percentage with battery charge indicator and empty the bag as Full bag indicator is placed in the machine too.
Features
- 2 x 20V Batteries
- Patent Intelligent Technology for torque on demand
- Full Bag Indicator
- Collapse Handle for easy storage
9. Greenworks G-MAX 40V 17” Brushed Mower
Brand: Greenworks
Power: 4Ah – 40V Lithium Battery
The best thing about this lawn mower is that it comes down in the list of weight, with least weight like 40.89 pounds, this machine results as the least fatigue creating mower. The operation seems very easy with this seamless brushed motor engine.
You can perform both bagging and mulching with this same mower and the patent green color is surely going to attract some extra attention towards you.
Features
- 4 Ah – 40V Lithium Batteries
- 17-inch deck for more convenience
- Less weight for effortless operations
- Single lever 5-position height adjustment
10. Greenworks G-Max 40V 16” Cordless Lawn Mower
Brand: Greenworks
Power: 4 Ah Li-ion Battery pack
Another one from Greenworks, this 4-wheel green giant powers multiple tools for complete yard work system. The 16-inch sturdy blade is capable of maneuvering upon the grass perfectly.
Front wheel comes with 6” size, while the rear wheels are little bigger with 7” of size, making the whole machine feels like gliding on the grass. Handling this lawn mower is as easy as moving a cycle, unlike the gas-powered lawn mowers.
Features
- 4 Ah Li-ion Batteries
- 2 in 1 bagging and mulching enabled mower
- 16-inch precision blade for maneuvering
- Single lever 5-position height adjustment
FAQs
Can I use mulching technique every time I work with lawn mower in my garden?
No, it is never recommended to mulch you garden every time you see grass achieving unwanted length, because too much of mulching will create a thick bed of the clippings and it will start troubling you than being a help in gardening. We recommend you make an alternate pattern of mulching & catching technique, that means you need to mulch your garden the first time and catch the grass clipping the next time.
Do I need to buy a different mower for catching purposes?
Depends on the type of lawn mower you are buying. Here in this post, we have recommended you those mowers only which can perform both the operations easily. All you need to remove the collection basket from the mover and simply it in an attachment which will spread the clippings evenly on the ground.
Is it true that gasoline mowers are more powerful and durable than electric?
This has been a great misconception among people that gasoline engines are more reliable, while the truth is way far from the reality. Yes, we agree that gas powered mowers are a bit more powerful than the electric ones but pros list is too short to cover cons. Electric mowers are now-a-days the most reliable of all machines available for gardening, they are quick, light weight and low maintenance. Moreover, gasoline lawn mowers create too much noise, while electric ones work pretty silently in comparison.
The most expensive of the mowers is the best, right?
You wish things were this easy, if that’s true, you must have been seeing only lawn tractors in the garden, is it the case? No! That’s because you need to find the best suited mulching lawn mower for yourself, according to your budget and requirements. Also, the size of the garden plays an important role, we have discussed that in detail within the post.
Can I use mulching technique on grass heights above a foot?
Mulching should be done on grass with height 3 inch or less, because of the clippings will be too much for the grass bed, you will see nothing but leftover clippings everywhere in the garden. Apart from being a help in the nourishment of grass bed, this mess will turn into your worst nightmare of gardening.
How can I trust whether you guys are “on point” about the recommendations made here?
Firstly, we are expert of gardening exclusively, that means the kind and amount of knowledge we have, is available to those only who themselves are professional gardeners. Secondly, the products we have recommended here are coming from well-known manufacturing houses, who happens to be in the business from decades. The world counts on their products and your satisfaction is guaranteed. Most of them provides unquestioned warranty/guarantee on their mowers, they ended the discussion right there right then.
Conclusion
We have told you each and everything about mulching technique and mowers which are expert in mulching. Taught you in detail about all the technical aspects, which you must consider before buying a lawn mower for your garden. If you are still struggling in choosing the right one from the detailed list above, you can write us in the comment section below. Thanks.
