Can anyone with experience with both systems share the pros and cons of each? Right now, I have neither, and the clippings and leaves spew out, everywhere. I pile them up and then rake them and throw into a compost pile. I would prefer just to chop them up. Both options are about the same price. I have one acre with lots of trees and beds, so I am buried in leaves in the fall. Information on alternate discharge diverter options is also appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Mulch kit vs. grass flap (or equivalent) for z421kw-54?
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One thing I do know - if the grass is long, mulching will not work well. Mulching blades are obviously needed to mulch.
If you can cut the grass often enough that the clippings are short - the blades and kit will make them invisible.
If the grass gets out of hand - cut high, then cut lower to hide all the clippings.
If you can cut the grass often enough that the clippings are short - the blades and kit will make them invisible.
If the grass gets out of hand - cut high, then cut lower to hide all the clippings.
I have a grass flap on a Ferris ZT. Use it ALL THE TIME, to mitigate spraying clippings where I don’t want them to go. In the fall I use it to rough mulch leaves keeping it closed. The pieces are not as small as my neighbor who has a Ferris ZT with a mulch kit. After several weeks, my yard looks like his thought because of natural rotting. What the grass flap also allows is for controlled side blowing. I can cut and discharge away from edges. Then go back over the discharge with a closed flap. When the mower starts to bog, opening the flap clears it up.
Not so much with the neighbor’s closed mulching kit. I shake my head when I see him stopping to clear under the deck. The drawback to the grass flap is that it will leave windrows when shut. Not a huge issue and nothing that can’t be resolved with a pass back over and a secondary discharge cut.
Spring grass and rapid growth should also be considered. Wet thick grass will torture a closed mulch kit. So you either have to do it in several cut depths, several mows, or super slow to avoid clumping and engine struggling. Not an issue with the option to open or close the grass flap.
You do sacrifice small/fine clippings with the grass flap because it does not have mulching blades. To me, the versatility overrides the desire to see less clippings. (Which again dry up or rot quickly depending on the season)
Yes, the neighbor has already said he wished he would not have gone the mulch kit route because it only works really well when the grass is dry and relatively short to start with.
I’d like to say it’s efficiency and not laziness…. I really enjoy back blowing the edges of the driveway back into the grass as a clean up after mowing instead of having to dismount and get the hand blower. I can with the grass flap, I couldn’t with the mulch kit.
Not so much with the neighbor’s closed mulching kit. I shake my head when I see him stopping to clear under the deck. The drawback to the grass flap is that it will leave windrows when shut. Not a huge issue and nothing that can’t be resolved with a pass back over and a secondary discharge cut.
Spring grass and rapid growth should also be considered. Wet thick grass will torture a closed mulch kit. So you either have to do it in several cut depths, several mows, or super slow to avoid clumping and engine struggling. Not an issue with the option to open or close the grass flap.
You do sacrifice small/fine clippings with the grass flap because it does not have mulching blades. To me, the versatility overrides the desire to see less clippings. (Which again dry up or rot quickly depending on the season)
Yes, the neighbor has already said he wished he would not have gone the mulch kit route because it only works really well when the grass is dry and relatively short to start with.
I’d like to say it’s efficiency and not laziness…. I really enjoy back blowing the edges of the driveway back into the grass as a clean up after mowing instead of having to dismount and get the hand blower. I can with the grass flap, I couldn’t with the mulch kit.
I have the Grass Flap on my Scag Tiger Cat 2 It works very well. I only use it when I'm close to the house or out by the road the rest of the time I have flap open. But them I am out in the woods where no one can see my years unless they come up the drive.
For the leaves in the fall I bought a used Cyclone Rake commercial Pro. Best $800 I have ever spent. I love living in the woods and having the buffer that hides the house from the road. But in the Fall I have a Sh** ton of leaves to deal with. Back when the kids were at home it wasn't bad but not I try to work smarter not harder!
For the leaves in the fall I bought a used Cyclone Rake commercial Pro. Best $800 I have ever spent. I love living in the woods and having the buffer that hides the house from the road. But in the Fall I have a Sh** ton of leaves to deal with. Back when the kids were at home it wasn't bad but not I try to work smarter not harder!
Thanks, this is what I am looking for. I know there are tradeoffs. I try to mow weekly so the clippings don't get that long anyway (usually), but your reply raises another question. What would be the impact of putting mulching gator blades and using them with a flap instead of a mulch kit?
I am speculating that the blade design on a mulching kit is to direct the cutting up into the deck, so it is repeatedly chopped. But, the standard blade is designed to direct the cutting out the side discharge. You might see a decreased side discharge with the mulching blades when the flap is open? So, your mileage may vary but it conceivably could work. I am not sure if you would end up with clumping though since it is not doing either process as designed?