| Red flag symptoms of underpowered mulching: |
- Engine bogs down in thicker patches
- Clumping appears even with proper blade setup
- Fuel consumption increases 30%+
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If you notice repeated bogging down, your engine isn’t able to maintain the same cutting speed that is recommended for best results.
If you notice any of the red flags, either switch to bagging/side discharge OR slow your roll.
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| Increased Maintenance |
| Mow grass. Mow money. Mow Maintenance. I think there was a song about this and we all know they don’t make a song about something unless it’s true. Spring mulching accelerates your regular mower maintenance requirements on some specific components. |
| Here is a quick list of things to be mindful of: |
| Blade Wear (Replace or Sharpen Every 20-25 Hours in Spring vs. 40-50 Hours in Summer) |
- Check blade edges daily
- Sharpen at first sign of dulling (shiny spots on cutting edge)
- Balance after each sharpening (out-of-balance blades cost 5%-10% fuel economy)
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| Deck Underside Buildup |
- Scrape deck after every 2-3 lawns in wet conditions
- Use GrassBuster deck scraper tool (#738-05033) for commercial operations
- Apply deck coating (MoDeck or Fluid Film) weekly to reduce adhesion
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| Spindle Bearing Stress |
| Mulching blades' increased weight and cutting resistance shorten bearing life: |
- Standard bearings: 500-700 hours
- Under spring mulching conditions: 350-450 hours
- Inspect spindle play every 40 hours in spring
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| Bagging Setup: The Equipment Trade-Offs |
There might be some companies out there that use bagging setups on most or all of their equipment, but most of the pros I speak with and see out in the field run a mix of mulching and bagging with mulching setups being the considerably larger portion of the equipment.
That said, there are always customers who prefer bagging for a variety of reasons and if even a small percentage of your clients want a more pristine finish to their yard, it might be worth it to consider some of the following equipment and suggestions for your operation:
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| Blade Configuration |
| Bagging blades create maximum airflow to lift clippings into the collection system: |
| High-Lift Bagging Blades Specs: |
- Sail height: 2-3" (vs 1.5" for mulching blades)
- Thickness: 0.20-0.25"
- Angle: 7-12° lift angle
- Steel grade: Hardened spring steel (HRC 48-52)
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| Do NOT over-lift: Blades with 3"+ sail height on decks under 60" will overload engines and waste fuel lifting air instead of clippings. Stick to manufacturer specifications. |
| Collection System Components |
| Soft-Sided Baggers (6-10 Bushel) |
- Pros: Lightweight, less engine drag, affordable
- Cons: Require frequent emptying (every 5-8 minutes in spring), limited durability
- Best for: Residential properties under 10,000 sq ft
- Popular models: Accelerator Ultra (#54400), Toro Ultra Vac (59220)
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| Hard-Sided Baggers (10-16 Bushel) |
- Pros: Extended run time between dumps, better for wet clippings
- Cons: Heavier (adds 60-90 lbs to machine), higher cost
- Best for: Commercial routes with limited dump access
- Common upgrade: GrassCatcher or Peco commercial units
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| Blower/Vacuum Systems (Walker MT-GHS, Exmark Navigator) |
- Pros: Massive capacity (reduce dump frequency by 70%), handle debris beyond grass
- Cons: $8,000-15,000 investment, complex maintenance
- Best for: Large commercial properties, spring cleanup contracts
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| Spring-Specific Consideration:Wet grass weighs 2.5X-3x more than dry grass. A 10-bushel bag holds approximately: |
- Dry summer clippings: 150-160 lbs
- Spring wet clippings: 380-420 lbs
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| This weight difference affects: |
- Dump frequency (more often)
- Machine handling (rear weight bias changes turning)
- Fuel consumption (increased 8%-12%)
- Tire wear (rear tires wear 30% faster)
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| Bagging System Maintenance Parts |
Increased bagging in the spring will require you to check certain components for wear more frequently. For high-wear parts like fabric baggers, blower impellers, chute elbows and tubes, and blower belts you will definitely need more frequent inspection at the very least.
A good general rule for deciding how frequently you should service or inspect equipment: Take the percentage increase in usage and apply it to the frequency of maintenance. For example, if you are using equipment twice as long in a given month, plan to service or inspect it twice as often as recommended.
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| Proactive replacement prevents mid-job failures. Stock these parts: |
- Mounting pins (usually ⅜-½" x 3-4")
- Support arm bushings
- Adjuster brackets
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| Spring Specific Equipment Challenges |
Summer is hard on your workers. Winter is hard on your wallet. Spring. … Well, spring is hard on your equipment. There are blade speed issues caused by grass buildup. Clogging chutes and decks from wet grass compaction. You can even have issues keeping your mower deck level with all of the added weight that wet, compact grass can add.
I’d like to stress again that it is important to figure out how much more you are using your equipment so you can properly increase maintenance and inspections.
A pinch of prevention equals a pound of….well, you get the point. The upfront maintenance will save you downtime and ensure your finished product is polished and up to your standards.
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| Equipment Ratios for Mulching and Bagging |
At the risk of sounding like every yoga instructor on the planet: “Life is all about balance.”
Every company will have a different customer base but a good general rule is to match your equipment to the jobs you have on the books. If 30% of your yards like to have the clippings bagged, try gearing up 30% of your equipment with lift blades and baggers.
You can adjust if you see opportunities to significantly increase your efficiency, but it makes sense to have equipment that mirrors your customers.
If you are a more visual decision maker, here's a practical decision tree for spring lawn care:
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| Choose MULCHING When: |
| Property Conditions: |
- Regular weekly service (prevents overwhelming clipping volume)
- Lawns under 12,000 sq ft (manageable clipping loads)
- Properties with distant/no dump access
- Flat or gently sloped terrain (mulching mowers struggle on hills in wet conditions)
|
| Equipment Capabilities: |
- Engine HP meets minimum requirements (see table above)
- Deck can be fitted with proper mulching kit
- Mulching blades available for your deck size
- You have time for daily blade sharpening
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| Client Preferences: |
- Environmentally conscious clients who value nutrient recycling
- Budget-conscious properties where premium pricing isn't justified
- Low-visibility areas where some clumping is acceptable
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| Choose BAGGING When: |
| Property Conditions: |
- High-profile commercial properties (offices, retail centers)
- Properties with thin turf (clippings smother weak grass)
- Lawns cut bi-weekly or less frequently (too much clippings volume to mulch effectively)
- Spring overseeding projects (clippings interfere with seed-to-soil contact)
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| Equipment Capabilities: |
- Engine HP exceeds deck cutting requirements by 4+ HP
- Convenient dump access every 30-45 minutes
- Bagger in good condition (no leaks, impeller balanced)
- Backup machine available (bagging failures are complete stoppers)
|
| Client Preferences: |
- HOA properties with strict appearance standards
- Premium clients who pay for a pristine finish
- Contracts that specify bagging
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| Equipment Checklist: The MUST-HAVE Parts and Tools |
Nothing will kill a productive day faster than having to take time to run to the parts store, or worse, having to wait for a part to come in.
Here is a checklist you can use to make sure you keep on mowing through spring: |
| Must-Have Spare Parts: |
- [ ] Full set of mulching blades (2 sets per mower)
- [ ] Deck scraping tools (1 per truck)
- [ ] Deck coating spray (2 cans per truck)
- [ ] Blade bolts (extended length for mulching blades)
- [ ] Mulching kit blocking plates (1 spare per deck size)
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| Tools Required: |
- [ ] Blade grinder (Oregon 88-023 or equivalent)
- [ ] Blade balancer (essential for smooth operation)
- [ ] Torque wrench (blade bolt spec: 37-50 ft-lbs depending on mower)
- [ ] Deck lift or jack stands
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| Spring Maintenance Supplies: |
- [ ] Spindle grease gun and high-temp grease
- [ ] Belt tension gauge (prevents slip-related power loss)
- [ ] Tachometer for verifying blade speed
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| For Bagging Operations: |
| Must-Have Spare Parts: |
- [ ] Full set of high-lift bagging blades (2 sets per mower)
- [ ] Blower drive belt (1 per mower minimum)
- [ ] Bagger tube section (most likely to crack)
- [ ] Mounting pins and hardware
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| Tools Required: |
- [ ] Fabric repair kit for emergency bag patches
- [ ] Impeller wrench (specific to blower model)
- [ ] Zip ties (10-20 on truck for quick tube repairs)
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| Spring Maintenance Supplies: |
- [ ] Graphite spray for tubes
- [ ] Touch-up paint for bag frame
- [ ] Extra bungee cords for securing full bags during transport
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| Final Recommendations |
Do an honest assessment of your customers and equip yourself accordingly. For most lawn care professionals, having a mix of equipment is usually the best option to keep yourself from having too much equipment sitting around most of the year.
Of all the parts and components we have discussed, top priority should be a set of quality blades. A smooth cut can mask a lot of other deficiencies in your equipment and will make the biggest impact on your final results.
Spring is tougher on your mower than other seasons. Make sure you are running your equipment with the best setup for your spring routes.
Mulching saves time per property (10%-15% faster) but requires more maintenance (blade sharpening, deck cleaning).
Bagging commands premium pricing (10%-15% higher) but adds operational costs (dump time, parts wear).
Don’t skip out on engine power. An underpowered mowing setup will end up costing you everything from time, to customer satisfaction, and definitely money.
Make sure your backups have backups. Whatever you spend on having parts handy for replacements and service now, will save you tenfold in lost productivity later
Lastly, just remember that spring is, and should be, an exciting time for your business. Making decisions about your mower set-up can play a huge part in how your experience actually ends up.
With the end being a more efficient, more profitable, less stressful spring, I hope you take a little bit of time in the next couple of weeks to set yourself up for success by finding that perfect balance … of equipment.
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| Justin Stultz, a LawnStarter platinum pro, is a lifelong lawn care enthusiast who started his first lawn maintenance route at 12 years old. Justin owns and operates a lawn maintenance company in Central Texas, and loves spending time with his wife and two children at soccer games, hiking at one of Texas’ beautiful National Parks, or doing yard projects. |