Blade terms can be a confusing mess, especially because there is a combination of local popular terms and engineering terms for each blade style.
Lawn mower blades come in two forms – mulching blades, and standard blades. While it may be challenging to instantly tell them apart, it gets easier when you know how they function and their distinguishing features.
Standard Blades vs. Mulching Blades – Comparison table
| Standard Blades | Mulching Blades | |
|---|---|---|
| Alternative name | 2-in-1 blades | 3-in-1 blades |
| Meant for | Cutting grass and bagging or discharging the clippings | Cutting grass, mulching, discharging, and bagging |
| Appearance | Aerodynamic design and straight | Increased cutting edges and more curves |
Standard Blades vs. Mulching Blades – How they compare
The biggest difference between these two blades is their shape. Mulching blades have more curves in their appearance compared to the straight edges of a standard blade, and the extra curves allows for more cutting edges. These also contribute to its ability to keep the clippings under the deck, while it cuts them repeatedly into smaller pieces.
Additionally, the other distinction is that regular blades are also termed as ‘high-lift’ blades, as their design allows them to create aerodynamic lifting of the clippings and moving them to the discharge area. Mulching blades will instead create circulation of the clippings within the mower’s lower deck, and this pushes the clippings back to the blade, where it cuts them repeatedly.
Standard Blades vs. Mulching Blades – A comparison review
Standard Blades
These are the regular blade types you would use to maintain your lawn, and are also called 2-in-1 blades as they bag the grass clippings after cutting them, or discharge them through the side-discharge of the mower.
Pros
- They do not strain the mower as it works, as they have lower power requirements
- They can work quietly and reduce the dust generated in your mower
Cons
- They clog easily when cutting more compact or taller grasses
Mulching Blades
Mulching blades are also termed as all-rounder blades, as they are highly efficient when handling 3 jobs at the same time – mulching, bagging, and discharging grass clippings in a single mowing session. However, unlike a standard blade, it will cut these clippings into smaller pieces repeatedly, then push them on the lawn to prevent wastage and allow the grass to absorb all the nutrients.
Pros
- They can be used in multiple lawn management purposes
- Make the lawn cleaner and healthier
- They can work with low power
- Allow for natural fertilization
Cons
- Unsuitable for tall grass
- Not as efficient when discharging grass clippings
Verdict: So, which is better? Standard Blades or Mulching Blades?
The answer to this question depends on the type of lawn maintenance you carry out, but we choose mulching blades as the overall better option due to their low energy demand – choose them though if you want to mow your lawn frequently. If you want to do it less frequently, standard blades will be fine for you.
FAQs
Can I use mulching blades with any lawn mower?
Yes, you can, as almost all mower brands will fit mulching blades very well. you will just need to measure the blades and the deck to ensure they can fit.