Rear or Side discharge

[1Random1]

Hello,

I am currently in the market to buy a lawn mower as my grass is about knee high already.

I have done all the reading I can before deciding to sign up to a forum and ask few things.

Rear Discharge vs Side Discharge.

Most forums I have been able to read, blogs etc on the internet all state "why the rear discharge decks are better" - Most of it is because:

1: You can mow close to things on both sides of the deck
2: They don't use as much power to do it with
3: They apparently cut faster than side discharge making the job get done quicker (so better on fuel as well)
4: They discharge the grass better/more evenly preventing clumping that side discharge mowers tend to make.

That has been the general consensus I found from all the blogs/entries/websites that give you the differences between both and I have read many people on this forum and other forums saying "I will never buy a side discharge again, windrowing is horrible, rear discharge does a much better job bla bla bla" Which is pretty much the same consensus as the above 4 points.

Here is where I am stuck though.

I have contacted all the mower companies directly, Kubota, Hustler, Woods etc.

From what they are telling me the side discharge mowers are the ones that actually leave a better finish on the lawn than the rear (which is now the opposite of all the above)... and the logical reason is simple.

With a rear discharge mower... it may 'disperses' the grass better behind it not clumping etc... but the grass is left on the cut lawn. So if the grass is knee high, That is going to leave a lawn that needs to be raked up, theres no 2 ways about that.

Side discharge on the other hand throws the grass to the side... if you mow in the direction of the discharge, theres 2 ways to mow:
1: Start on the external side and mow clockwise towards the centre
2: start in the middle and work anticlock wise towards the outside.

In both situations the grass is being thrown into the grass you are cutting next and thus it is not left on the nicely cut grass. This allows you to chop the grass even finer as you go over the cut clippings.

The point is, side chute throws it away from where you have cut which keeps the ground clean where it has been cut while rear discharge leaves the mess on the grass you cut because it well, just leaves it there on top.

Question 1:

So why do people say that the rear discharge clumping, windrowing etc etc is better on rear discharge when it just leaves the mess behind on the grass when side chute actually throws it away from where you have cut keeping the cut area clean with no grass/clumping of any sort?

Question 2:

what if rear discharge mowers are used with sweepers/bags... would that eliminate the mess left behind while still giving the advantage of the speed of cut/able to cut close to things on both sides etc?

Essentially im trying to get an idea of whether to get a side discharge or rear discharge and whatever problems each may have, is the problem fixable via something else eg: bag, sweepers, etc, kind of eliminating the short comings while keeping the advantage.

Question 3:

Zero turn mowers vs traditional tractors that you attach a mowing blade too... what works better? Everywhere I ever grew up on acreages people use a tractor with a blade behind and just cut the whole field (up/down,hills etc) - what advantage is there to Zero turn vs tractors? Are zero turns more for football field, golf courses etc while tractors for bush type farms or?

 

[JerryK]

[ popcorn being pop'd as we speak ] A lot depends on how often you plan on cutting it, what result you want [ lawn like, or just field cutting ], what shape the contour of the ground is, how sandy/dusty of a soil condition, and a million other things I can not think of at the moment. I tend to be in the camp of ZTR cuts best for a lawn like result, but not too handy if you are wacking many acres of field only occasionally. I looked into rear discharge in the past, and almost bit .... but ended up getting another side discharge ZTR. Good luck, Jerry...

 

[Monster5601]

When I was shopping for a new mower, my dealer's response was, "the only rear discharge mowers I sell are to cemeteries. They do not want to blow clipping on the graves." So I bought another side discharge.

I never had "clumping" but that may be more of a property of the mower's blade speed and the moisture content of the grass. I also run a commercial-grade mower (Kubota ZD323).

Is putting a collection system on a rear discharge even possible?

I opted to run a zero turn over my tractor because the ZT travels faster and can maneuver around obstacles (e.g. trees) easier. I use to cut with the tractor, the ZT reduced my cut time by 40%.

 

[dodge man]

Do you normally wait so long to mow. Knee high is pretty extreme for a regular mower and is more for a brush cutter. I can’t recommend one over the other another alternative is a mulching kit. The key to the problem is to mow more often.

 

[seville009]

Zero turn mowers are much quicker and, if you get one with a suspension, much easier on your back.

With respect to rear vs side discharge, I opted for side because I think it disperses the cuttings better. The closest comparison is my brush hog. Not a rear or side discharge, of course, and different from a finish mower, but that leaves piles where I mow.

 

[chim]

If mowing would be the ONLY task, I'd probably look at a zero turn. Lawn care outfits using them and they do a nice job. During mowing season I see them early in the morning cutting wet grass and blowing what looks more like a fine mist rather than clippings.

I really enjoy tractors and what they can do in addition to mowing. Although it was barely used it this year, the tractor is wearing an 8' snow plow at present. It has a fairly robust loader that is easy on and off and will lift about a ton. The 3 point hitch with rear blades, landscape rake, etc come in handy too.

Had 2 side and most recent were 3 rear discharge decks. The important thing about mowing is to do it frequently enough to avoid generating excessive clippings in the first place. Regardless of the mower, if the grass is way too long you'll have a mess. I have 3-1/2 acres and wouldn't even think about gathering clippings. With the tractor and mower I have now, it takes me under 1-1/2 hours at a leisurely pace.

 

[RjCorazza]

I cut commercially with 2 Kubota ZD mowers, both side discharge with chute blockers. In anything but short dry grass rear discharge decks have always clumped and/ or windrowed for me. YMMV.
I have never seen a bagger for a rear discharge deck.

Zero turn machines will out perform standard tractor mowers hands down. They're faster, more maneuverable, and generally more comfortable and stable. In wide open areas my 60" zero turn will significantly out perform my 84" tractor finish mower.

As implied in other posts, folks have varying opinions. I am only stating my experience. I could NEVER go back to a standard lawn mower, and would not use a rear discharge deck.

 

[mikester]

If you are in the habit of cutting knee high grass DONT get a ZTR. I would get a rear discharge 3PH bush hog for the tractor and more HP the better.

If you are mowing a nice lawn and like a nice finish and FAST mowing speed Id get a side discharge ZTR. From my experience the rear discharge leaves clumping trails behind you where side discharge spreads it out. When I use gator mulching blades on taller grass with side discharge I get more clumping. Avoid wet and or tall grass with the ZTR for best results.

 

[RalphVa]

Buy a no discharge mower or one with that option. That's what our 3 walkbehinds are. All mulch.

Ralph

 

[ruffdog]

Knee high grass? Buy a bagger.