Mulching Mowers: An Eco-Friendly Way to Mow

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Do you have to pay extra to dispose of lawn debris? Do you want to do more to help the environment but don't know where to start? Using a mulching lawn mower for your maintenance needs might be the perfect solution.

Mulching Lawn Mowers: Benefits for You

Most lawn mowers on the market have the label "mulching mower," but what does this mean? Essentially, this type of lawn mower has a special blade to cut up your grass and leaves into small bits that can be left on top of your lawn to decompose. This "debris" actually adds nitrogen back into your lawn, providing nice green grass for you to enjoy without spending as much money on fertilizer.

Fortunately it also does this without making your beautiful green lawn look messy -- mulching mowers leave the clippings in an even layer that blends in with your existing grass. That's why the debris is clipped into such small bits.

Mulching lawn mowers can also save you time and money, since you no longer have to change the bag as it fills up with clippings, and you don't have to pay for the extra trash to be taken away.

Gas versus Electric

Mulching mowers have more powerful engines than other lawn mowers due to the energy needed to transform the clippings into mulch. If you want to be environmentally friendly, try the electric kind -- it's quieter, doesn't release exhaust into the air, and you won't have to deal with used oil disposal. The cord should be long enough for most small yards, but cordless models also exist if you need a wider mowing range.

Sources

Mulching Lawn Mower Guide
Mulching Lawn Mowers Make Sense

About the Author

Laura Horwitz has worked as a freelance writer and researcher for five years in both London and the US. She had a monthly landscaping and tips column for the Sussex County magazine RH Review, and her articles have appeared in Film Focus, 6 Degrees Film, and BizBash magazine.