Do Walker Lawn Mowers Work Good for Leaves?

Mulching Mowers

• Most rotary lawn mowers made since 1995 allow users to mulch their leaves. The mower may dispose of the mulched leaves though a side discharge opening or collect them in a bag at the rear of the mower for the user to dispose of later. An older mower can also be retrofitted with a mulching blade that chops the leaves up into smaller pieces than older blades.

Advantages

• Using your your walk-behind mower to mulch your leaves has several advantages over other disposal methods, such as placing your leaves on the curb for pickup. Mulching returns vital nutrients to the soil, helping you maintain a healthy and attractive yard. Mulch also guards the soil against moisture loss and helps protects it from wind and rain erosion. You save money by mulching since you don't have to purchase large lawn bags in which to place the leaves.

Tips

• Mowing when the leaf depth is no more than 1 inch high gives best results, according to the Sierra Club. If the leaves are distributed unevenly over the yard, you can rake them into a uniform 1 inch depth. Set your mower at a cutting height of 2 1/2 or 3 inches. When using a side discharge mower, start at the edges of the yard and mow inward, which allows you to cut up the leaves more than once.

Options

• When using a mulching mower with a rear bag, you can spread the chopped leaves evenly over the lawn after mowing to give your turf the benefits of mulching. You also have other options on how to use the mulch, regardless of whether you use a side discharge or bagger mower. Digging the mulch into your garden soil will encourage plant growth. Spreading it around the base of trees and shrubs helps them obtain adequate moisture, which increases their resistance to pests and disease.