Lawnmowing question

I have a decent Honda self drive mower with a bagger. The grass seems not to all go into the bagger, but leaves trails behind the mower, which I have to rake up. I have checked underneath, and all the passages are clear. Should I power wash it really good to get some of the surface crud off it? Is this normal? Is there something to set in there that I'm not setting. If I take the bag off, there is a flap that comes down, and I guess would mulch everything. But then, I think I'd just have more cut grass to rake.

Steve

Reply to
Steve B
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Did it do this when it was new?

Reply to
Tony Miklos

I agree. I had a Honda and it was the best mulcher, cutting it into really small pieces. Mowing once a week during peak season I had no problem leaving the grass. I think if you want to rake you definitely don't want to mulch.

Reply to
trader4

If you are bagging go clockwise. Mulching counterclockwise.

Reply to
tnom

I have a fairly high-end Honda. I end up, about once a year, bagging the clippings. Often, it's the first mowing of the season, since I leave it fairly long. The mulcher is better, but the bagger works fine. I've never had to rake.

Reply to
krw

I do overlap, in fact I have to, or the mower chokes and dies. And if I leave all that grass on there, it looks bad, and starts to mold. We're talking big wads here.

Steve

Reply to
Steve B

Wouldn't that depend if you are in the Northern or Southern hemisphere? I never really thought about it, but will try to be sure this next mowing. Think I'm going to clean under the deck, as well as touch up the blade.

Steve

Reply to
Steve B

leaving the clippings is good for the lawn. just remove the back and mow.

Reply to
Steve Barker

More important is the time of day. Once the sun passes its apex at noon, you have to mow from the opposite side. I've learned to get all the grass cutting done early or wait until late afternoon to avoid problems.

Ever see how the ball fields have stripes in the grass? The mow the even rows in the morning, odd rows in the afternoon.

Reply to
Ed Pawlowski

LMAO!! what if he does straight lines (the white way) and goes back and forth?

Reply to
Steve Barker

back=bag. jeeeze.

Reply to
Steve Barker

Back =3D the clippings deflector. It goes in place of the bag. jeeze.

Harry K

Reply to
Harry K

My Honda is an antique with a big plastic plug that goes into the discharge hole for mulching. Be sure there isn't one in place on yours.

Then power wash the bag.

Jim

Reply to
Jim Elbrecht

Clean the fabric or canvas part of the bag so that allows more airflow.

The mower blades generate airflow which carries the grass into the bag or container. This air must be able to freely pass into and then out of the bag/container.

Over time, grass debris and dirt will accumulate in the fabric/mesh/canvas part of the container, reducing air-flow capability.

And yes, I also bag my grass because cut grass clippings actually don't contain a lot of nutrient value and contain a lot of carbon. Accumulation of cut clippings causes thatch buildup which absorb and then release rainfall (as opposed to allowing the rain to be absorbed directly into the soil - a problem in hot summer months when rainfall can be sparse).

The thickest, healthiest and luxuriant lawns are those where the clippings are bagged.

Reply to
Home Guy

"Steve B" wrote in news:RpHnq.85219$ snipped-for-privacy@news.usenetserver.com:

Clean the underside of the deck. Then, make sure the blade is sharp and not installed upside down. TomC

Reply to
TomC

Try it without bag. Greg

Reply to
gregz

If you have big wads, perhaps you aren't mowing often enough.

In any case, you can always go over the lawn again which will chop up the wads and either bag the clippings or mulch them depending on how you have your mower set up.

Reply to
DerbyDad03

Dull blades are the most common cause of this followed by a clogged bag. Sharp blades make clippings, dull blades make clumps of mush that cant ride the wind created by the lift wings into the bag.

Reply to
beecrofter

On 10/20/2011 12:14 PM, beecrofter wrote: ...

Followed by not using bagging blades w/ the extra lift if it hasn't ever bagged well....

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Reply to
dpb

Long grass needs less water to keep it healthy. My mower is set at the second-highest setting all summer. I'll go out in a week or two, after it's completely dormant, and mow it down a notch or two.

Reply to
krw

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