Benefits of a Mower With Side & Rear Discharge

Lines

• A lawnmower that discharges its grass clippings to one side is handy in a variety of situations because it allows you to cut in tidy lines. If the mower blows its clippings to the left side, for example, begin cutting the lawn on the right side. As you near completion of the cutting job, you'll have blown all the clippings together, which makes raking them and picking them up easier than if they are spread throughout the lawn.

Safety

• Occasionally, it's simple to mow over a stick or rock by mistaken if it is hidden in grass. If you have a mower that discharges to either side, the object you hit can become a projectile that can result in damage or injury. Many commercial, riding lawnmowers have a rear discharge system. Though an object flying out the rear of that style of mower can still cause injury, it's less likely that someone is directly behind you while you cut grass.

Tight Spaces

• If the layout of your yard dictates that you cut several thin paths, then a lawnmower with a rear discharge is ideal. That factor is especially true if you have objects on each side of the paths, such as a garden or patio, that you do not wish to cover in grass clippings. A manually operated lawnmower works in this situation because it will deposit its clippings directly behind its blade instead of outward to one side.

Windrows

• When using a side-discharge mower to cut long grass, it's common to have the clippings create windrows, which are long, tall lines throughout the lawn. Though repeated passes with the mower can eliminate windrows, doing so requires extra time and effort. Rear-discharge mowers are ideal for not creating windrows because they don't blow the grass clippings against the previous row of clippings. A rear-discharge style of mower typically leaves a steady amount of clippings directly behind itself.