Question: Recently, you said it was important to keep blades sharp on a mulching mower. Why?
Mulching mowers, also called recycling mowers, differ from the old traditional mower by having a double blade that cuts the grass instead of a single blade, and a deck or housing surrounding the blade that has been redesigned to create more lift.
The mulching mower blade must cut the clippings several times before these clippings fall to the soil between the grass plants and decompose.
If the blade is sharp, it will have an easier time cutting the suspended clippings. Also, when the blade is sharp, it will cause less damage to the leaf tips of the growing grass blades.
Bob Morris is an associate professor with the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. He can be reached at morrisr@UNCE.unr.edu.
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