What is the Performance Difference Between a Rear-discharge Mower and a High-vac Mower?

Discharge

• No real major difference exists in the way that a rear-discharge and a high-vacuum mower discharge the grass that they cut. The main difference is that a rear-discharge mower is similar to a side discharge in that the mower blades simply sweep the grass clippings out the back of the mower rather than the front. Some rear-discharge mowers have bags to collect the clippings and others do not. The high-vacuum mower, on the other hand, uses a high suction system that actually lifts the grass clippings up and out the side into a vacuum tube. The clippings are then discharged into a bag behind the mower. As long as the bags on both types of mowers are not full, both types of mowers do a fairly adequate job of not leaving behind any clippings.

Grass Type

• Rear discharge and high-vacuum mowers both perform well with shorter grass and grass that is dry. The collection systems of both types of mowers can be easily clogged if the grass is either wet or long. Wet grass also can accumulate in the openings of the collection systems and prevent the mowers from picking up any additional grass.

Types

• Both high-vacuum and rear-discharge mowers come as both riding and push mowers. Given the size of a high-suction system, these mowers generally perform better as riding rather than push. Rear-discharge mowers are generally push mowers. Some of these are self-propelled mowers as well. This feature can make it easier to trudge through taller grass than a traditional push mower.

Mulching and Collection

• Rear-discharge mowers that have no bag do not collect the grass trimmings. These trimmings end up back on the lawn where the nutrients in the grass can be absorbed back into the soil to feed the lawn. Some high-vacuum mowers and rear- discharge mowers that collect the grass require that you empty the bag periodically and do not provide this feeding feature. When choosing a mower, you have to ultimately decide what your lawn needs the most, mulching or to be vacuumed clean.