Anyone have a mulching kit or just mulching blades on a zero turn?

[sixdogs]

Great advice so here's what I did. I ordered the Grasshopper mulch kit today to use most of the year except when the grass is thick and lush. I also decided to keep my 7 ft Woods rear mower and will use that when needed. The rear discharge will spread clippings better and as growth slows down I can use the Grasshopper with mulch kit.

 

[tallyho8]

The worst part about the mulch kit on my Kubota is that it is extremely hard to put on and take off. In the time it takes me to change it I could cut my grass 6 times.

 

[Dftodd]

I have a 60" Kubota Z326 with a mulching kit added on. The yard looked terrible after I cut it when I first got it. I added the kit and the yard looks great after being cut now. You can see no cut grass or leaves lying around as it mulches them so fine that they blend in. The mulch is good for the lawn as it adds some fertilizer. There are no big clumps of cut grass lying in the yard to kill the living grass.

The only downside is that you must cut tall and wet grass slower as it bunches up under the mower.

Have you tried your original high lift blades with the mulching kit?

I got your mowers half brother and just installed the kit. Even with going slow, I still have to hit spots more then once.

 

[shooterdon]

Not a ZT, but I use the Gator blades on a rider and love them. I am waiting for delivery of a Bad Boy ZT and will be getting Gator blades for it. With the Gator blades, it is not recommended to use a mulch kit.

The Gator Mulcher blade

The Gator Mulcher blade continues to grow in popularity as a replacement mower blade.

gatorblade.com

 

[RjCorazza]

I run Gator blades on my two ZD mowers year 'round, without a mulching deck kit. I find they leave finer clippings than standard blades, but not mulched like a real mulching deck.
I mow about 16 rural properties weekly (30 acres) and need to move along at a brisk place, so real mulching is not feasible.

What I really like about the Gator G5 and 6 blades is that they are heavy duty and keep a nice edge. I generally sharpen them every 3 weeks / 90 acres. Even then, I'm just touching them up.
As far as chutes, I use Advanced Chute Systems discharge covers in the open position most of the time. Close it up and the mowers do very well grinding up leaves in the fall or keeping clippings out of undesirable areas.

 

[sixdogs]

So, would Gator blades be good for early spring when grass is thick and then switch to the mulch kit for most of the Sumer when things are dry?

 

[RjCorazza]

In reality, every deck is different in performance with mulching blades or blades of various lift. I do recommend trying Gator blades though.

 

[RalphVa]

Best mulching mower I've ever had is a Honda with dual blades. Now have a Ryobi 40v 21 inch crosscut with same dual blades. Why are zero turns any different? Just put those dual blades on there and block off the outlet.

 

[tallyho8]

Have you tried your original high lift blades with the mulching kit?

I got your mowers half brother and just installed the kit. Even with going slow, I still have to hit spots more then once.

I used the blades that came with the mower and then the blades that came with the mulching kit. I did not notice any difference.