Mulching mowers

I mulch using a john deere js63v. the finish is good, you don't notice clippings when done and most of my clients accept my advice as best.

I use it for some medium-size commercial sites where it takes about an hour to cut the grass. Using a regular machine would take an extra half an hour and nobody cares enough to notice a difference in the grass, as long as it's green! I do intend to buy either a mulching ride-on or a scag for these sites though.

I would NOT recommend the John Deere machine in particular though. Not only has the drive belt failed in the first year (and I had to pay as they won't cover drive under warranty) but the bolt holding the blade on has just sheared.

Shoddy customer service from John Deere in general, and a couple of their dealers around central scotland (stirling and lochwinnoch).

I would like a rover mulching mower but a used one on ebay just sold for £400! More than I would pay for a used machine.

I don't know what reliable dedicated machine to buy to be honesy. Maybe best looking at a bigger machine, ferris etc, 30inch range.

The lawnflight pro roller has a mulch kit which contains two blades and plug, costs about £30 and in the dry works really well.

Fraser Watson said:

the ped mower i use the most is a 3 in 1 huski just like a proper mulching deck with a hatch on the side to fit collection bag or side discharge shoot.as for roller mulchers 99% sure there isn't one, if your cutting fortnightly in the summer you'll see the cut grass if its wet you'll see the cut grass as it clumps if i'm mulching i just spend 10mins with the blower to get rid of any clumps that may be left

i have some sites that take me 6 hours to ped mow imagine if i had to empty the bag all the time aswell!!!

not one single client has ever said anything about strips to me

i would say that all of my residential clients want it collected, commercial not so much, infact i don't offer them a choice, more waste = more cost and in a competative market muching is the way for me

rideons are all mulchers aswell

Replies

Dan Frazer Gardening July 20, 2010 at 10:03pm

I mulch using a john deere js63v. the finish is good, you don't notice clippings when done and most of my clients accept my advice as best.

I use it for some medium-size commercial sites where it takes about an hour to cut the grass. Using a regular machine would take an extra half an hour and nobody cares enough to notice a difference in the grass, as long as it's green! I do intend to buy either a mulching ride-on or a scag for these sites though.

I would NOT recommend the John Deere machine in particular though. Not only has the drive belt failed in the first year (and I had to pay as they won't cover drive under warranty) but the bolt holding the blade on has just sheared.

Shoddy customer service from John Deere in general, and a couple of their dealers around central scotland (stirling and lochwinnoch).

I would like a rover mulching mower but a used one on ebay just sold for £400! More than I would pay for a used machine.

I don't know what reliable dedicated machine to buy to be honesy. Maybe best looking at a bigger machine, ferris etc, 30inch range.
- Classic Gardens > Dan Frazer Gardening July 21, 2010 at 7:21am
  
  The lawnflight pro roller has a mulch kit which contains two blades and plug, costs about £30 and in the dry works really well.
  
  Fraser Watson said:
  the ped mower i use the most is a 3 in 1 huski just like a proper mulching deck with a hatch on the side to fit collection bag or side discharge shoot.as for roller mulchers 99% sure there isn't one, if your cutting fortnightly in the summer you'll see the cut grass if its wet you'll see the cut grass as it clumps if i'm mulching i just spend 10mins with the blower to get rid of any clumps that may be left
  
  i have some sites that take me 6 hours to ped mow imagine if i had to empty the bag all the time aswell!!!
  
  not one single client has ever said anything about strips to me
  
  i would say that all of my residential clients want it collected, commercial not so much, infact i don't offer them a choice, more waste = more cost and in a competative market muching is the way for me
  
  rideons are all mulchers aswell
PRO

Paul @ Ashgate Garden Care July 20, 2010 at 10:55pm

I've got an Etesia Me53B mulcher.

I only use it on commercial jobs (I out of choice do little domestic mowing).

You don't see the clippings if it's a fairly thin sward. If it's thick grass and it's damp the cuttings stand out like a saw thumb and you might as well have used a standard mower with no grassbox fitted.

I used my Etesia on a churchyard today and my dad came to give me a hand with his Klippo mulcher. It was interesting to note that the Estesia gave a better finish with less visible clippings.
Lawncare-4u.co.uk July 21, 2010 at 1:49am

only for commercial unless owner doesnt object and its out of sight to them and others or is rough anyway .

i think you need a good one that has power too. mine £310 reworked/ was £500 not to good.