How Grass Catcher Attachments Work

Push Mower

• With a push mower, the grass catcher bag is mounted either to the side or behind the mower. There is a connection attaching it to a side or rear eject port cut in the mower's body. There is no fancy design required to make the system work. As the grass is cut, it spins beneath the deck and flies out of whichever opening the bag is attached to, where it collects. The blade's spinning motion keeps grass cuttings suspended in the air long enough to force them out and into the bag.

Riding Mower

• A riding mower grass catcher attachment works on the same principle, though the setup might look a little fancier. Most riding mowers have the collection bag mounted on a steel frame behind the mower, while a flexible tube fastened over the cutting deck opening funnels cut grass back to the bag or bags. Some commercial landscaping crews or homeowners with large yards have a set of two and sometimes three bags mounted together at the rear of the mower. Once again, the lift created by the spinning blades keeps the grass from falling until it can be sent into the attachment apparatus.

Mulch Kit

• A different type of grass catcher attachment is called a mulch kit. A push mower might have a mulch kit that is as simple as an extra blade mounted above the regular blade, but riding lawnmowers can be outfitted with a more complex version that includes side skirting and baffles designed to catch the grass and temporarily hold it until the mulching blade is finished slicing and dicing. With a mulch kit installed, cuttings are held beneath the mower while they are cut many times, reducing them to tiny particles that fall to the ground, adding nutrients and moisture to the lawn.

Considerations

• One problem with letting your grass cuttings lie, especially if you have a thick lawn, is that it can actually affect the health of the underlying grass by blocking the sunlight for a period of days or weeks. However, aside from healthy lawn issues, some people simply don't like the look of piles of dead grass marring their freshly cut yard. For these people, a grass catcher is an indispensable tool.