After 25 years of mulching, I went back to side discharge. What a game changer! I now remember why mowers used to cut great with only 3.5 hp. With side discharge I can cut my yard with half the effort, no clumping, no bogging down, and no worries about wet grass. (And the grass is ALWAYS wet in the spring here.) Mulching is really hard on steel decks too. The only negative with side discharge is that it takes an extra five minutes to blow off clipping from the walks. Sometimes the old way is the best way!
Right on with all points. I use Gator blades and side discharge and the gators cut up the clippings but with the side discharge there'd no clumps and a finer spray. Good Video!
Works really well for that kind of mulching. I did a decent amount of leaves last fall at a property I mowed and I was pretty surprised how well it did.
I've run into major clumping problems with side chute and mulching. My mother's yard has some really thick spots that always stay wet no matter what. But one thing I do with clump spots is I will use my leaf blower to break up and spread the clump over a large area.
Nice job on the videos. On the underside of my mower, on the deck area only, I've sprayed it with WD-40. When I go to clean up after every mowing, there's nothing there. I figured I'd give it shot since it works so good on my shovels when shoveling snow. You're doing a great job, thanks for sharing.
I have the TimeMaster as well. I've been using it for many, many years now, and love it. I also side discharge almost always. I find that I get a better result without using the side discharge chute. I just have a small bungee cord attached to the side chute door to hold it open. I find that this method does a better job of broadcasting the clippings further out than when the side chute is installed. As always, I love your videos. Very good work.
I’ve been mulching my lawn for 25+ years with two different 48” mower decks from John Deere. Both have had attachments for washing the underside after each mowing to keep the clippings from accumulating. I’ve found that if you leave the grass growing too long before mowings you leave a trail of clippings just as you would a side discharge. With the high temperatures last summer here in Central Washington,regular watering and supplemental fertilizing, I was mowing every 3 days just to keep a nice looking lawn. Maybe you mentioned it Ryan, but frequent mowings make it easier on the tractor/mowers engine, fuel consumption and I find the blades stay sharper longer. I enjoy your videos Ryan! I learn a lot from you!
I used to mulch with riding mower which it was designed to do but for the past few years I side discharge and I like it better. Deck cleaner and lawn looks better.
I like my mulching toro but I find you really almost need to have it at the max height and zero damp in the grass for it to work right. If you let the yard go for two weeks or it’s even a smidge wet the mower deck gums up with grass and it struggles to mulch or even stops the motor.
Hey Ryan what are you thoughts on the gator or maxpower blades , I am looking to stop bagging my yard with my 22” craftsman mower and start mulching with no bag .. what do you suggest ?
Ok video however.. clearly what you are saying is you cannot mulch well with an underpowered mower. The Toro Timemaster is a truly underpowered unit. With the twin blades, it needs a 10HP motor minimally. The 8.75 just doesn't cut it,
I side discharge my acreage but thinking about trying to mulch. I havent had bad results side discharging though. Good blades and you can't even see the discharged grass.
I have a honda and a toro so I mulch and side discharge. I get a pretty good cut when I mow in a square pattern with the chute facing into the center of the square. This allows me to cut up the already cut clippings multiple times. At the end when you have reached the center of your square, you can simply bag and discard the pile of clippings. This method seams to leave a very clean cut.
wait so you dont HAVE to do everything the same way??? I dig the video, its all about learning the why of methods so you can figure out what works best for you!
I dislike side discharge because of the thick line of grass clippings it leaves behind. Maybe it's the blades I'm using or the grass is wet from dew. But there's nothing I can do about that. I mow the grass when I can.
Side discharge every time.The mower will last longer and run faster.I don't rear discharge I don't feel safe doing that.Mulching isn't good for these mowers they aren't strong enough yet.
I prefer to mulch, its better for the overall health of the lawn and I don't spray clippings all over the driveway and other planting areas. If I get clumps for whatever reason, I just double cut and they go away.
Thanks for the video. Do you chemically treat your lawn? It appears so. Full thick grass cuts cleaner than lawns with weeds throughout that hold in moisture. Also mower decks are also much cleaner with grass lawns having minimal weeds.
Always love those spontaneous customers on July 3rd that want 2 foot tall ugly lawn turned into 2 inch short beautiful striped masterpiece. In situations like that low lift blades and side discharge would be the 2nd least abusive to the equipment. The best strategy is to keep driving if you can afford to turn it down. The less we enable, the less customers will get away with it.
Good points in this vid. For the past ten years, I've run a Lawn Boy that had bag or mulch option....no side discharge...and I live in SW Florida, where everything is damp...all the time. Mower stalled ALL the time. Now I have a Toro with self-propel, forward and back, with side discharge option, which I am using. Makes all the difference....
i live in swfl too. i grew up mowing lawns. 7 years sgo i moved to a house that for the 1st time as an adult i had to mow. i got a simple cheap recycler mower. what a fucking nightmare. it took 2 hours to mow and 2 tanks of gas! i had to stop it contatntly to clear the deck. then i got a side dischage mower and far fewer problems. thats how we mowed back in the 80s and 90s. got a snapper rer setup for mulching about 6 weeks ago. i about burned up the dam deck belt today trying to mulch. it had been 6 days between cuts. i ordered the side discharge chute today.
I am a newly retired lawn professional in northern Illinois. Where you are makes a difference as to what you do. I cut large areas of commercial properties. Mulching works well if it is cut as often as once a week. If the grass is higher then an inch cu off then it is best to side discharge. If it is more the 2 inches we just double cut the area. This always worked well for us.
With my particular mower and the thickness of my lawn, even cutting every 4 days causing some build up under the deck when mulching. If I cut that often then side discharge clippings are fairly small and don't make any kind of mess. It works well for me but I know many who use your plan and it works fine as well.
I also side dish charge with my timemaster because of clogging and like you said "motor efficiency" Also, when side dish charging the dual blades cut the grass up so small it looks like it was mulched. 👍😃
ryanknorr true.. but with my services I have to bag/discharge because the deck would be done for after the 1st lawn 😂 Thanks for the speedy reply! some RUclipsrs just don't like to respond to subscribers...
thm59225 I tend to bag them because they mower sucks them up even with the deck on a higher setting. Therefore you can do a 1 acre leaf covered yard and only have it fill 1 or 2 bags :) 👍
We've had a ton of rain here in upstate NY, so the clumping becomes unavoidable. You have several consecutive days when it rains, so you can't mow. Then the grass grows long and stays wet because of more rain. Repeat throughout the summer and it's amazing my mower hasn't choked to death. I'd bag but would have to empty it 20 times, I'd never finish.
@@phoneyjoe take the grass down in hight setting, and don't mow when it's soaking wet. It can damage the roots pushing a heavy mower over can damage the roots as well as scalp
@@phoneyjoe what I mean by height*is run over it on the mowers highest height with a box, then repeat the process with the next setting down with the box and so forth, that way you'll have super lush grass without the yellowing due to grass blades smothering itself
What can I do to cut down on all the clippings I end up having to blow off the side walk? Mine technically is supposed to mulch and it’s STILL shooting out all over the sidewalk. I’m thinking of putting on my side discharge attachment and shooting BACK into the yard, THEN taking it off and mowing over it a second time with without the side discharge. I’m hoping this will help with all the clippings im ending up with
Thanks , I plan on starting my own lawn care company within the next year . Learning allot more than I though I already knew from watching your videos.
Here is my story, my two cents regarding my 10 year old Toro Timemaster, here in Kansas City. This machine now runs better than ever on my 7,000 SF grass area. Last year I replaced the transaxle (finally). Replaced the carb (after rebuilding the old a few times) along with replacing the usual belts, kill switch, and cables along the way. Also, recently replaced the wheel adjuster handles finally...etc. I increased the engine rpm from factory 2500 setting to 3000. This has increased cutting torque and traction (speed) simultaneously. I clean or replace the air filter regularly. I do regular oil changes (20 ounces, 3 times per year) and use ONLY high octane fuel, and always have. I replaced the stock cutting system with upgraded mulching blade$ (which demanded that extra bit of torque). I do not use the side discharge, typically. IMHO, mulching capability is diminished with the side discharge "open" (or when bagging, of course).The mulched clippings (fines) are so "fine" when the trap is shut. This allows the grass to be "fully" mulched allowing me to bag the clippings less frequently. giving the hearty grass a " break" from the build-up. The tall fescue is awesome and deck adjustment is set on "A", the tallest setting. The highest setting is great for me because the tall grass holds moisture better, thus, my sprinkler system runs less frequently. I only take less than an inch or so off so am able to maximize the mulching process. Yes, undercarriage will always have some buildup, regardless. I wait for dryer grass to become available, if possible, as I get to maximize the mulch process and minimize the sticking before washing the undercarriage after each cut. Trying to make this old beast last another season but am pleased with this machine. Thanks for you video and the feedback that receive!
i live in florida and frankly mulching doesn't work. you really can't do it here. the grass is simply too loaded with water. the clippings he showed is what a nearly dead lawn in florida would produce. i mowed my lawn today at 3 pm. the grass was at its maximum dryness at that point. i had to dis engage the blade several times and let the deck clear its self. i got a lot of stragglers too. i bought this mower 6 weeks ago and it was setup for mulching next week i'll have the side discharge chute for it. discharging isn't a problem for Florida grasses. you won't smother the lawn doing it.
Is side discharging better than mulching at keeping weeds from spreading through seed? I wish I could bag all my clippings until I can remove the weeds in my yard, but bagging is out of the question 99% of the time.
My mower was designed for bagging and rear discharging. Mulching the grass causes a really loud metalic grinding noise cos the grass gets stuck between the outer edge of the blade and the deck. Then it drops a massive lump of green goo onto the grass ive just cut. When discharging its fine and bagging is also fine, just mulching is an issue but i never really use that mower for mulching anyway unless its short thin grass
I Bag most of time (90%) - or mulch small or weak growth. Side discharging usually means I have to spend extra time blowing off the clippings. Like you said, do what works best for you. Timemasters have improved a lot (for bagging) since the 1st generation. I have always used them since they first came out. So I have noticed the improvements and appreciate Toro is always listening to customers and updating as needed
I have a 3/4 acre lawn and mow using a riding mower. I’ve found what works best is to side discharge, let the clippings dry for a day or so then mow with the bags attached. Then I don’t have wet, soon-to-mold grass clippings to dispose of.
Recycling works if you cut regularly and you don’t let the grass get too high, but with a lot of rain, wacky work schedules, that doesn’t always work. Recycling decks clog easy and I have moved past the recycling mower and do a side discharge and then use my Billy Goat to vacuum the clippings. They are great fertilizer in my garden. Side discharge does give a more even cut as it takes more horsepower for recycling mowers and they bog down and stall out. Especially when the grass is not drying to cut.
Great video as always. Not sure if it's been addressed before but what blades to use. Right now I have 42" JD tractor and I have mulching blades in it. It came with regular blades. I was mulching but have had fair share of clumping even with frequently cutting but grass is super thick. After watching video I most definitely should benefits to do side discharge. My question is any benefit of switching to regular blade non mulching or just keep mulching but side discharge in case I occasionally do mulch?
I have Emerald Zoysia which is thick and I used a Husqvarna rider for years and mulched with it. I retired the old Husqvarna 2 months ago and bought a new Cub Cadet Zero Turn rider with a steering wheel. It came setup to side discharge which gave a beautiful cut but I bought the mulching kit and hate the cut quality and it leaves clumps of grass on the lawn. After watching your video I'm going back to side discharging. Great video!
Great presentation, bucko! Few people ever consider what you presented, in that when you have these bloody "mulching" mowers, the result is, as you said, strain on the motor, not nearly as good a finish, and when the grass is ejected it is spread finely over the area, and will break down rapidly. The other thing I felt was neglected, was that blades should be kept well and truly sharp. Gives a bit better finish on the grass. If you look at grass cut with most rotary mowers, but look at blades of grass very carefully, you will see that it looks as though they've been shredded, rather than cut. The plant takes a long time to recover properly from blunt blades. That's why grass cut with a barrel or reel cut mower, always looks like it has been manicured. Use a magnifying glass to look at the grass cut with both types of mower, and you'll see a huge difference in cut result.
In the spring, I bag because the grass is growing too fast and if there's lots of rain, I don't even think about mulching. I most definitely won't be doing no double cut. When the summer hits, it's all mulching baby. I just purchased this lawn mower because I will start maintaining my parents lawn (they need all their coins) and they have an 1/2 acre, so with theirs and my lawn I will do 3/4 acres weekly. I will test the side discharge on their lawn to see how I like. If it leaves too many large clippings that will be the one time I will double cut. You have to clean the bottom of the mower on a regular basis. It seems Toro uses a different blade on the newer models for mulching. Does your mower have this baffle on it (see link below)? Curious. toro.com/en/parts/partdetails/?id=40972
I have moderately thick grass and I mulch my yard, once a week depending on rain and it works perfectly, if I miss a couple days and it is 1 1/2 a week or more I bag, getting your yard in a cycle is best for mulching I found
Depends on grass height. If its pretty tall I'll side discharge, if its not too bad I'll mulch. I need to get the mulch kit for my current lawn tractor though...however my 21" mower is setup for either side discharge or mulching most of the time...I'll use it in the fall to bag leaves if they get too thick.
I agree. I have a cub cadet xt1 that for the first year I side discharged and my lawn looked great. I tried mulching kit for it and it did ok but I didnt think it looked as good as it did by side discharging. Another issue I have run into with mulching is getting bad clumping. I never had a clumping issue with side discharging but mulching is really bad on my deck for clumping.
good info, but it seems no matter what I to do try my Sears mulching push mower always leaves a row of clipping that makes it look like a hay field, sharpen the blade, I mow often and bagging seems to be the only thing that helps
I side discharge too. i think its easier on the mower and its less fussy if the lawn gets too long or if its a little wet. I converted a co-worker and she says it works MUCH better side discharging than mulching.
Bagging is fine but you are removing the clippings which actually helps add some nutrients back to the lawn. At the same time you also have to find somewhere for those clippings to go so it's just more work.
Great video! I have a 0.5 acre lawn that is often very wet year round even on warm summer days. I'm about 1 mile south of Lake Ontario here in NY where there's lots of natural wetland. I am in the market for a new mower. My 30 year old craftsman walk behind mulcher still runs like a champ but i think it's time for an upgrade. I'm getting a little tired of walking at a snails pace and making half, sometimes even 1/4 swipes to accommodate for the thick wet grass. I love to walk when I mow but i'm starting to think a side discharge might be better for me with the wet grass.
Does your frequency of side discharge still return nutrients back into the lawn as mulching is said to do? LCN recommends the Timemaster but your feedback gives me second thoughts. My 12,000 square foot lawn in SE Michigan and my Toro 22” are not playing well together.
Still returning clippings so it's the same but they aren't quite as fine as mulching. I mow often enough that is has never mattered much in my situation.
Couldn't agree more. I have a time master and it has a real problem with wet grass or grass that is too tall. It will bog down or won't discharge the grass at all. Very frustrating.
Mulching also works best with gator blades, the teeth on top of the blade help make the clippings smaller and therefore less clumps, also helps with mulching leaves.
I have about a .5acre yard. Should I mulch, bag, or side discharge. I have tried mulching and I do get some clumps. I even get some clumps with bagging. My yard is think just like yours. It takes me probably close to 2 hours every time I cut to push mow. I have a Husqvarna AWD that I am not really that pleased with
I'd do mulching or side discharge. Just make sure to be mowing often enough that you're not taking off too much of the grass blade at one time. I know that's hard to do with limited time and especially in a bigger yard.
After 25 years of mulching, I went back to side discharge. What a game changer! I now remember why mowers used to cut great with only 3.5 hp. With side discharge I can cut my yard with half the effort, no clumping, no bogging down, and no worries about wet grass. (And the grass is ALWAYS wet in the spring here.) Mulching is really hard on steel decks too.
The only negative with side discharge is that it takes an extra five minutes to blow off clipping from the walks.
Sometimes the old way is the best way!
This guy gets it
Very informative and great video editing skills too - I love the cross strips looks great
Thank you!
Right on with all points. I use Gator blades and side discharge and the gators cut up the clippings but with the side discharge there'd no clumps and a finer spray. Good Video!
how is the Timemaster for leaf mulching
Works really well for that kind of mulching. I did a decent amount of leaves last fall at a property I mowed and I was pretty surprised how well it did.
Antnio THOMAS
Antonio Thomas
I've run into major clumping problems with side chute and mulching. My mother's yard has some really thick spots that always stay wet no matter what. But one thing I do with clump spots is I will use my leaf blower to break up and spread the clump over a large area.
This dude's gonna be on his death bed thinking...man...I wish I had just one more day to do lawn chores. That 30,000 hours just wasn't quite enough.
Last words gonna be
"It could've been greener"
@@SkateAndReview
Oh snap that's funny
Nice job on the videos. On the underside of my mower, on the deck area only, I've sprayed it with WD-40. When I go to clean up after every mowing, there's nothing there. I figured I'd give it shot since it works so good on my shovels when shoveling snow. You're doing a great job, thanks for sharing.
with side discharge you can mow every other week and just have to leaf blow the grass clippings from the fence line then done!!
I have the TimeMaster as well. I've been using it for many, many years now, and love it. I also side discharge almost always. I find that I get a better result without using the side discharge chute. I just have a small bungee cord attached to the side chute door to hold it open. I find that this method does a better job of broadcasting the clippings further out than when the side chute is installed. As always, I love your videos. Very good work.
Side discharge just leaves clumps on top of my grass. Mulching puts it into the ground
I have that honda, so I will continue to mulch cut with it
I’ve been mulching my lawn for 25+ years with two different 48” mower decks from John Deere. Both have had attachments for washing the underside after each mowing to keep the clippings from accumulating. I’ve found that if you leave the grass growing too long before mowings you leave a trail of clippings just as you would a side discharge. With the high temperatures last summer here in Central Washington,regular watering and supplemental fertilizing, I was mowing every 3 days just to keep a nice looking lawn. Maybe you mentioned it Ryan, but frequent mowings make it easier on the tractor/mowers engine, fuel consumption and I find the blades stay sharper longer. I enjoy your videos Ryan! I learn a lot from you!
Thanks for doing side discharge. I use that 80% of time and have the best luck with it.
brother, those drone shots are exposing your neighbors for grass abuse.
haha, until you realize that most people don't care about this, or have better things to do with their time
@@joeschmoe6492
Like what?
@@joeschmoe6492 waste of time and money. Go have some drinks and enjoy your family better.
I used to mulch with riding mower which it was designed to do but for the past few years I side discharge and I like it better. Deck cleaner and lawn looks better.
I totally agree with you. I just bought this mower and it works fantastic with side discharge. Your yard looks great too!
What do yo do when your customers insist that you ONLY bag their property?
Bag it. They are paying you.
I like my mulching toro but I find you really almost need to have it at the max height and zero damp in the grass for it to work right. If you let the yard go for two weeks or it’s even a smidge wet the mower deck gums up with grass and it struggles to mulch or even stops the motor.
so iam watching this again, & noticed you do not mention blade designs or blade conditions???? 😕
Hey Ryan what are you thoughts on the gator or maxpower blades , I am looking to stop bagging my yard with my 22” craftsman mower and start mulching with no bag .. what do you suggest ?
Ok video however.. clearly what you are saying is you cannot mulch well with an underpowered mower. The Toro Timemaster is a truly underpowered unit. With the twin blades, it needs a 10HP motor minimally. The 8.75 just doesn't cut it,
david jenkins if you think the Timemaster is underpowered, you’ve clearly never cut with it.
I side discharge my acreage but thinking about trying to mulch. I havent had bad results side discharging though. Good blades and you can't even see the discharged grass.
Hi Ryan. I am struggling to find a side discharge mower from a major brand. I want to spend $500-600. Any thoughts, please?
I have a honda and a toro so I mulch and side discharge. I get a pretty good cut when I mow in a square pattern with the chute facing into the center of the square. This allows me to cut up the already cut clippings multiple times. At the end when you have reached the center of your square, you can simply bag and discard the pile of clippings. This method seams to leave a very clean cut.
wait so you dont HAVE to do everything the same way??? I dig the video, its all about learning the why of methods so you can figure out what works best for you!
Completely agree. Man, you are cranking out the videos! I don't know how you do it! :)
Grass Daddy well there is a right way and a wrong way. To say otherwise is silly 🙃
I dislike side discharge because of the thick line of grass clippings it leaves behind. Maybe it's the blades I'm using or the grass is wet from dew. But there's nothing I can do about that. I mow the grass when I can.
I’m mowing with my side discharge attachment now and I love it! I wish the gated community where I live allowed mowing on weekends!
Might as well be communist.
Side discharge every time.The mower will last longer and run faster.I don't rear discharge I don't feel safe doing that.Mulching isn't good for these mowers they aren't strong enough yet.
Ryan, I'm a huge fan of your videos especially because of the clear audio and great camera work. Can't wait until the next one!
I really appreciate that. I try to spend extra time on the production so that it is as clear as possible both audio and video.
Good point. You don't realize how much high production value adds until someone mentions it
I prefer to mulch, its better for the overall health of the lawn and I don't spray clippings all over the driveway and other planting areas. If I get clumps for whatever reason, I just double cut and they go away.
I just use my scythe.
No you don't.
I really like my new electric scythe, but i respect a purist.
Thanks for uploading this good video.. I'm new to this, just purchased my new home & bought a new Toro 22 inch recycling gas mower...
Thanks for the video. Do you chemically treat your lawn? It appears so. Full thick grass cuts cleaner than lawns with weeds throughout that hold in moisture. Also mower decks are also much cleaner with grass lawns having minimal weeds.
What about a blade that is specifically designed for mulching?
Always love those spontaneous customers on July 3rd that want 2 foot tall ugly lawn turned into 2 inch short beautiful striped masterpiece. In situations like that low lift blades and side discharge would be the 2nd least abusive to the equipment. The best strategy is to keep driving if you can afford to turn it down. The less we enable, the less customers will get away with it.
They are gamers 364 days a year. Mommas basement dwellers sucking off the tax payers tit. I’d keep driving.
how about scalping it then going over it with a 65cc backpack blower
Lol that's what I do and I work in lawn care
Good points in this vid. For the past ten years, I've run a Lawn Boy that had bag or mulch option....no side discharge...and I live in SW Florida, where everything is damp...all the time. Mower stalled ALL the time. Now I have a Toro with self-propel, forward and back, with side discharge option, which I am using. Makes all the difference....
i live in swfl too. i grew up mowing lawns. 7 years sgo i moved to a house that for the 1st time as an adult i had to mow. i got a simple cheap recycler mower. what a fucking nightmare. it took 2 hours to mow and 2 tanks of gas! i had to stop it contatntly to clear the deck. then i got a side dischage mower and far fewer problems. thats how we mowed back in the 80s and 90s. got a snapper rer setup for mulching about 6 weeks ago. i about burned up the dam deck belt today trying to mulch. it had been 6 days between cuts. i ordered the side discharge chute today.
I learned a lot from this.
You look very similar to Ryan Reynolds. You could be his son.
Damn. You're convincing me to switch.
I am a newly retired lawn professional in northern Illinois. Where you are makes a difference as to what you do. I cut large areas of commercial properties. Mulching works well if it is cut as often as once a week. If the grass is higher then an inch cu off then it is best to side discharge. If it is more the 2 inches we just double cut the area. This always worked well for us.
With my particular mower and the thickness of my lawn, even cutting every 4 days causing some build up under the deck when mulching. If I cut that often then side discharge clippings are fairly small and don't make any kind of mess. It works well for me but I know many who use your plan and it works fine as well.
Nice Argyle striping pattern.
Any lawn nerd would be proud. It really looks nice.
Thank you!
Thanks for this great video and input!
I also side dish charge with my timemaster because of clogging and like you said "motor efficiency" Also, when side dish charging the dual blades cut the grass up so small it looks like it was mulched. 👍😃
I agree. It cuts things up fairly well without clogging up the deck.
ryanknorr true.. but with my services I have to bag/discharge because the deck would be done for after the 1st lawn 😂 Thanks for the speedy reply! some RUclipsrs just don't like to respond to subscribers...
The main point of making these videos is to interact with people with similar interest....at least that's how I see it!
ryanknorr do you mulch the leaves in the fall?
thm59225 I tend to bag them because they mower sucks them up even with the deck on a higher setting. Therefore you can do a 1 acre leaf covered yard and only have it fill 1 or 2 bags :) 👍
When you mulch you are supposed to bring the height up, so you don't get clumping
We've had a ton of rain here in upstate NY, so the clumping becomes unavoidable. You have several consecutive days when it rains, so you can't mow. Then the grass grows long and stays wet because of more rain. Repeat throughout the summer and it's amazing my mower hasn't choked to death. I'd bag but would have to empty it 20 times, I'd never finish.
@@phoneyjoe take the grass down in hight setting, and don't mow when it's soaking wet. It can damage the roots pushing a heavy mower over can damage the roots as well as scalp
@@phoneyjoe what I mean by height*is run over it on the mowers highest height with a box, then repeat the process with the next setting down with the box and so forth, that way you'll have super lush grass without the yellowing due to grass blades smothering itself
I get what you're saying, you're going for that 1/3 of the blade cut. If I had to make multiple passes I'd die.
Anyone ever tell you that you look like Ryan Reynolds?
Ryan what grass seed do you use I like the color of your grass
I have Kentucky bluegrass
I will stick with a goat
Good thoughts man! Sweet videos as always
Thanks! Nice work on your videos as well.
ryanknorr thanks!
What can I do to cut down on all the clippings I end up having to blow off the side walk? Mine technically is supposed to mulch and it’s STILL shooting out all over the sidewalk. I’m thinking of putting on my side discharge attachment and shooting BACK into the yard, THEN taking it off and mowing over it a second time with without the side discharge. I’m hoping this will help with all the clippings im ending up with
Your lawn reminds me of Farmville
Great info Ryan! Gonna definitely try the side discharge method with my Toro.
Good luck!
Thanks , I plan on starting my own lawn care company within the next year . Learning allot more than I though I already knew from watching your videos.
Same here
That is a monster sized push mower
Here is my story, my two cents regarding my 10 year old Toro Timemaster, here in Kansas City.
This machine now runs better than ever on my 7,000 SF grass area.
Last year I replaced the transaxle (finally). Replaced the carb (after rebuilding the old a few times) along with replacing the usual belts, kill switch, and cables along the way. Also, recently replaced the wheel adjuster handles finally...etc.
I increased the engine rpm from factory 2500 setting to 3000. This has increased cutting torque and traction (speed) simultaneously.
I clean or replace the air filter regularly. I do regular oil changes (20 ounces, 3 times per year) and use ONLY high octane fuel, and always have.
I replaced the stock cutting system with upgraded mulching blade$ (which demanded that extra bit of torque).
I do not use the side discharge, typically. IMHO, mulching capability is diminished with the side discharge "open" (or when bagging, of course).The mulched clippings (fines) are so "fine" when the trap is shut. This allows the grass to be "fully" mulched allowing me to bag the clippings less frequently. giving the hearty grass a "
break" from the build-up. The tall fescue is awesome and deck adjustment is set on "A", the tallest setting. The highest setting is great for me because the tall grass holds moisture better, thus, my sprinkler system runs less frequently.
I only take less than an inch or so off so am able to maximize the mulching process.
Yes, undercarriage will always have some buildup, regardless. I wait for dryer grass to become available, if possible, as I get to maximize the mulch process and minimize the sticking before washing the undercarriage after each cut.
Trying to make this old beast last another season but am pleased with this machine.
Thanks for you video and the feedback that receive!
i live in florida and frankly mulching doesn't work. you really can't do it here. the grass is simply too loaded with water. the clippings he showed is what a nearly dead lawn in florida would produce. i mowed my lawn today at 3 pm. the grass was at its maximum dryness at that point. i had to dis engage the blade several times and let the deck clear its self. i got a lot of stragglers too. i bought this mower 6 weeks ago and it was setup for mulching next week i'll have the side discharge chute for it. discharging isn't a problem for Florida grasses. you won't smother the lawn doing it.
Is side discharging better than mulching at keeping weeds from spreading through seed? I wish I could bag all my clippings until I can remove the weeds in my yard, but bagging is out of the question 99% of the time.
Modelo de la máquina de la intro.
I would always use discharge
what if my lawn is a field of baled hay?
My lawn is weeds heavy (crabgrass, clover weed). Is it better to side discharge or bag while trying to save and grow the lawn? Thanks in advance!
What is the mode name of the chute?
I've found that if I just slow down a bit I get a better cut. let's me keep an eye out for weeds better too.
I tried slowing down considerably last mow. Didn't seem to make much difference in my case, but I'll continue to experiment.
I'm just learning how to mow and this video was incredibly helpful! Thanks!
Glad to help!
Do you ever get clumps?
How about thatch building up ? No healthy for the lawn
Myth
My mower was designed for bagging and rear discharging. Mulching the grass causes a really loud metalic grinding noise cos the grass gets stuck between the outer edge of the blade and the deck. Then it drops a massive lump of green goo onto the grass ive just cut. When discharging its fine and bagging is also fine, just mulching is an issue but i never really use that mower for mulching anyway unless its short thin grass
Much more practical to just mow the yard and let the cut grass disenigrate back into the lawn, refeeding the lawn with mulch and fertilizer.
I Bag most of time (90%) - or mulch small or weak growth. Side discharging usually means I have to spend extra time blowing off the clippings. Like you said, do what works best for you. Timemasters have improved a lot (for bagging) since the 1st generation. I have always used them since they first came out. So I have noticed the improvements and appreciate Toro is always listening to customers and updating as needed
I have a 3/4 acre lawn and mow using a riding mower. I’ve found what works best is to side discharge, let the clippings dry for a day or so then mow with the bags attached. Then I don’t have wet, soon-to-mold grass clippings to dispose of.
Recycling works if you cut regularly and you don’t let the grass get too high, but with a lot of rain, wacky work schedules, that doesn’t always work. Recycling decks clog easy and I have moved past the recycling mower and do a side discharge and then use my Billy Goat to vacuum the clippings. They are great fertilizer in my garden. Side discharge does give a more even cut as it takes more horsepower for recycling mowers and they bog down and stall out. Especially when the grass is not drying to cut.
My troy bilt is “3 in 1”. Might try mulching....just worried about thatch building up...🤷♂️
Great video as always. Not sure if it's been addressed before but what blades to use. Right now I have 42" JD tractor and I have mulching blades in it. It came with regular blades. I was mulching but have had fair share of clumping even with frequently cutting but grass is super thick. After watching video I most definitely should benefits to do side discharge. My question is any benefit of switching to regular blade non mulching or just keep mulching but side discharge in case I occasionally do mulch?
I have Emerald Zoysia which is thick and I used a Husqvarna rider for years and mulched with it. I retired the old Husqvarna 2 months ago and bought a new Cub Cadet Zero Turn rider with a steering wheel. It came setup to side discharge which gave a beautiful cut but I bought the mulching kit and hate the cut quality and it leaves clumps of grass on the lawn. After watching your video I'm going back to side discharging. Great video!
Great presentation, bucko!
Few people ever consider what you presented, in that when you have these bloody "mulching" mowers, the result is, as you said, strain on the motor, not nearly as good a finish, and when the grass is ejected it is spread finely over the area, and will break down rapidly.
The other thing I felt was neglected, was that blades should be kept well and truly sharp. Gives a bit better finish on the grass. If you look at grass cut with most rotary mowers, but look at blades of grass very carefully, you will see that it looks as though they've been shredded, rather than cut. The plant takes a long time to recover properly from blunt blades. That's why grass cut with a barrel or reel cut mower, always looks like it has been manicured.
Use a magnifying glass to look at the grass cut with both types of mower, and you'll see a huge difference in cut result.
In the spring, I bag because the grass is growing too fast and if there's lots of rain, I don't even think about mulching. I most definitely won't be doing no double cut. When the summer hits, it's all mulching baby. I just purchased this lawn mower because I will start maintaining my parents lawn (they need all their coins) and they have an 1/2 acre, so with theirs and my lawn I will do 3/4 acres weekly. I will test the side discharge on their lawn to see how I like. If it leaves too many large clippings that will be the one time I will double cut. You have to clean the bottom of the mower on a regular basis. It seems Toro uses a different blade on the newer models for mulching. Does your mower have this baffle on it (see link below)? Curious.
toro.com/en/parts/partdetails/?id=40972
I have moderately thick grass and I mulch my yard, once a week depending on rain and it works perfectly, if I miss a couple days and it is 1 1/2 a week or more I bag, getting your yard in a cycle is best for mulching I found
Depends on grass height. If its pretty tall I'll side discharge, if its not too bad I'll mulch. I need to get the mulch kit for my current lawn tractor though...however my 21" mower is setup for either side discharge or mulching most of the time...I'll use it in the fall to bag leaves if they get too thick.
I agree. I have a cub cadet xt1 that for the first year I side discharged and my lawn looked great. I tried mulching kit for it and it did ok but I didnt think it looked as good as it did by side discharging. Another issue I have run into with mulching is getting bad clumping. I never had a clumping issue with side discharging but mulching is really bad on my deck for clumping.
We mow once a week here. My 30inch Exmark mulches just fine.
I know a guy who mows his lawn every other day...really. Side discharge and those little lengths are no problem for him. Wish I had his energy!
good info, but it seems no matter what I to do try my Sears mulching push mower always leaves a row of clipping that makes it look like a hay field, sharpen the blade, I mow often and bagging seems to be the only thing that helps
that guitar interstitial should be the menu music for a mowing simulator
I side discharge too. i think its easier on the mower and its less fussy if the lawn gets too long or if its a little wet. I converted a co-worker and she says it works MUCH better side discharging than mulching.
I just tried a 20 year old 6hp briggs to mulch 10"high grass and it worked but the engine did hesitate sometime :D
Hey Ryan, what about bagging?
Bagging is fine but you are removing the clippings which actually helps add some nutrients back to the lawn. At the same time you also have to find somewhere for those clippings to go so it's just more work.
Mulching causes grass clumps and causes mower to bog down, especially if wet
Great video! I have a 0.5 acre lawn that is often very wet year round even on warm summer days. I'm about 1 mile south of Lake Ontario here in NY where there's lots of natural wetland. I am in the market for a new mower. My 30 year old craftsman walk behind mulcher still runs like a champ but i think it's time for an upgrade. I'm getting a little tired of walking at a snails pace and making half, sometimes even 1/4 swipes to accommodate for the thick wet grass. I love to walk when I mow but i'm starting to think a side discharge might be better for me with the wet grass.
You look familiar. Are you also a welder. I used to watch welding videos during the great recession.
Does your frequency of side discharge still return nutrients back into the lawn as mulching is said to do?
LCN recommends the Timemaster but your feedback gives me second thoughts.
My 12,000 square foot lawn in SE Michigan and my Toro 22” are not playing well together.
Still returning clippings so it's the same but they aren't quite as fine as mulching. I mow often enough that is has never mattered much in my situation.
Couldn't agree more. I have a time master and it has a real problem with wet grass or grass that is too tall. It will bog down or won't discharge the grass at all. Very frustrating.
Mulching also works best with gator blades, the teeth on top of the blade help make the clippings smaller and therefore less clumps, also helps with mulching leaves.
side Discharge ( to me) is not a good idea if you have too many weeds in your lawn. Side discharge will spread the weeds.
put your bag on and side discharge works well
thank you for sharing your experience. i learn so much from your videos
Do you use high lift blades? I hear it makes a big difference when side discharging or bagging
Great video, just subbed! Thanks!
I have about a .5acre yard. Should I mulch, bag, or side discharge. I have tried mulching and I do get some clumps. I even get some clumps with bagging. My yard is think just like yours. It takes me probably close to 2 hours every time I cut to push mow. I have a Husqvarna AWD that I am not really that pleased with
I'd do mulching or side discharge. Just make sure to be mowing often enough that you're not taking off too much of the grass blade at one time. I know that's hard to do with limited time and especially in a bigger yard.
Spray bottom of the deck with silicone