OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums General Discussion Forum Lawn Care & Maintenance Mulching lawnmowers - an advantage?

How are mulching lawnmowers an advantage environmentally over the standard mower?

Going back to the 60/s adverts for Reel type mowersthe old traditional type of mowers used to say that it eas a wellknown fact that clippings left on the lawn to rot caused fungus and disease to occur in the lawn. Thr rotary mower manufacturers who tthe threat to the traditionals, said that it was a fact that the mulchy cut up bits of grass went back in to the ground and acted as a fertilizer////// Now who was telling the truth????? Joe

There are two ways to use a mulching mower,the right way and the wrong way,but the benifits are well worth it,greener/lusher lawn and NO thatch and best of all no carting around 100s of bags of clippings that cost you $$$ at the tip,wouldn't you prefer that money in your own pocket?
Each time that you catch the grass not only are you stealing its food but you are also stealing its "blanket",remember back in the winter with the yellowing from the frost bite on all those caught lawns? never happened to me,all mine where snug as a bug in a rug! with mulching you are giving the lawn a feed,leaving a nice warm blanket on the lawn that is like a sheeps wool,cool in summer,warm in winter,it not only traps water by acting as a mulch it keeps the lawn cool and protected but is invisible to the naked eye,sorry have i rambled?

I was told by a professional gardener that all rotting vegetation, including lawn clippings, uses nitrogen in the process of degeneration. It is only a short term loss but you may need to give a dose of fertiliser back to the soil now and again.

Well, a little research tells me I got that wrong and that rotting vegetation actually increases nitrogen content. doh!