Bagging lawn clippings

[jaxs]

I leave lawn clippings where they land except for 30' radius from hvac condensers. With this light use, a Craftsman push mower lasted me over 20 years and wore out ( more like deteriorated with age) a couple of bags/catchers. I could mow the entire area around condensers and have +- half a bag full. On occasion I would go on to mow additional area and bag would fill to near capacity before leaving clippings on yard. 20025 enter brand new Troy Bilt model TB200C, self propel. I have to empty bag 3 times to complete mowing around condensers. Clippings don't look any finer or courser. I've tried mowing a much larger area but when bag reaches 15/20%, no additional clippings enter bag. Blade sharpened twice although didn't appear needed. Blade rotation and orientation confirmed. Both mowers used several times so needless to say, it's not occasionaly wet grass nor neglected/overgrown ( Bermuda ).

Few people push mow, much less bag these days but I'm wondering if anyone has this problem.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Blade sharpened twice although didn't appear needed.

I don’t have anything constructive to add, but the “sharpening comment” made me think of the blades I just replaced on the Old Lady’s “Tractor”….

She hits so many rocks I have to “dive for cover” when she is mowing….

Here are the blades I just replaced.









Carry on!!!!!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

do you have the correct blades for bagging ? I know Cub Cadet ( MTD lke your troybilt) have 'high lift ' blades for bagging mowers.

 

[Killer Bee]

do you have the correct blades for bagging ? I know Cub Cadet ( MTD lke your troybilt) have 'high lift ' blades for bagging mowers.

^ this!

high lift blades are designed for vacuuming and bagging as opposed to mulching blades which are designed for suspending clippings for multiple whacks before falling to the ground. some hybrid blades do well at both but may not perform optimally at either.

we bagged regularly at our orange county house we sold last year. corner lot, active kids, etc. tried to keep as much of the grass off the concrete and out of the house as possible. I replaced our mower a few years ago and had the same dilemma. the new machine didn't come with a high suction vacuum blade the previous mower had. only 8500sqft lot but a mile of edging LoL. the house brought 7 digits so I threw in the mower, edger and trimmer.

this spring I bought a new machine for our mo house here in town with a tad over 1/4 acre. toro 21565 super recycler, personal pace, smart stow, etc. handles the fairly steep slope out front very well since Mrs. Bee and my son do the mowing here. we bagged twice this year so far for weed abatement but mulching otherwise for good lawn health. machine does a great job at both. I think the deck design also has something to do with it. first cutting with it back in April.

good luck!

 

[SDT]

do you have the correct blades for bagging ? I know Cub Cadet ( MTD lke your troybilt) have 'high lift ' blades for bagging mowers.

Bingo.

 

[William1]

I don’t have anything constructive to add, but the “sharpening comment” made me think of the blades I just replaced on the Old Lady’s “Tractor”….

She hits so many rocks I have to “dive for cover” when she is mowing….

Here are the blades I just replaced.


View attachment 174842

View attachment 174843

View attachment 174844


Carry on!!!!!

That'll buff out.

 

[William1]

My old Sears Craftsman Garden tractor, standard high lift blades, put 95% of the clippings in the bags.

New JD X754 with high lift blades and power bagger puts 100% in the bags. I'm almost looking forward to leaf collection come fall. Almost.

Old, old Murray push mower put 100% in the bag, but it is long retired.