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Best Mulching Blades 2024 – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

Want to make sure the grass in your lawn looks neat and well-maintained? Then using a mulching blade is your best options. Of course, there are numerous types of blades currently available in the market. As a potential buyer, be aware that not all mulching blades will be able to cater to your needs.

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Mulching blades are different from other blades because they make sure the clippings quickly decompose and the soil gets all the naturally released nutrients. Here's a list of the top 5 best mulching blades to choose from, their purpose, design, and more!

**Below, you'll find more detailed reviews, but you can also click links above to check current prices and read customer's reviews on Amazon.

The Design of Mulching Blades

Mulching Blades

Via Amazon.com

Mulching blades commonly have a more curved surface. This particular curved surface includes two different cutting planes along with the blade’s edge and makes for the most common design. Previous mulching mowers had space for two blades which were usually arranged perpendicular to one another.

These blades start circulating clippings beneath deck where the cutting and re-cutting of them into tiny pieces takes place. The finer clippings allow for quicker decomposition, releasing the nutrients back into the soil.

The video below explains the difference between a mulching and standard blade in an easy manner.

Mulching blades can also be referred as the three-in-one blade. Sometimes these mulching blades are also called as all-purpose blades because they can be used for a variety of tasks. There are good choice to have around for people who want to take care of their lawns and want to quickly decomposable clippings.

Working With Mulching Blades

Lawn Mover

Via Amazon.com

Working with these blades is easy. And as mentioned above, the fact that they can be used for a variety of tasks related to lawn care makes them a good investment. Mulching blades offer additional cutting blades along with the curved blades. Such a combination allows for better lawn work.

Mulching blades, when used with a lawn mower usually enhances its capabilities in cutting by taking into account more curved surface. Some mulching mowers also feature two blades installed perpendicular to each other, and that also rotate together, enhancing performance.

  • Did you know how to start a riding lawn mower? Check here!

When working with mulching blades, there are a few simple (yet necessary) steps you should follow.

  • You should begin at the top left corner of your lawn and then move down towards the lawn’s bottom left corner.
  • Now move towards the bottom right corner by turning left. The point of doing this is that you should first mulch the outline first. Furthermore, any grass clippings that are expelled will be thrown towards the center of the lawn depending on the kind of mower owned by you.
  • Keep moving the lawn as in the first step, expanding the outline as you continue moving closer to the center of the lawn.
  • If you do it right, you’ll be left with a perfectly mowed lawn with all of the cut grass and clippings in the center

.Keep in mind that you should mow your lawn when it’s an inch taller than the actual length you want it to be. For example, if you want the blades of the grass to be 3 inches, you should use mulching blades when the grass has grown to 4 inches.

Furthermore, mulching mowers will also increase the mowing frequency. This is partly due to the clippings sending the nutrients back into the soil for faster and healthier growth.

Why Use Mulching Blades?

The reason why mulching blades are used is because of the clipping decomposition speed. For you to have a lovely lawn, the grass requires nutrients. The clippings produced by the best mulching blades boosts grass growth, which the video below explains.

Ensuring the grass clippings are able to decompose faster also helps keep the environment clean. You also won’t have to worry about storing clippings in plastic bags to get rid of later. Furthermore, these blades offer precise cutting due to a curved style surface.

How to Choose Suitable Mulching Blades

Now, before you go ahead and buy mulching blades, there are a few factors you need to keep in mind. Using the right kind of mulching blade for the kind of mower you have is important. These blades also have different types of edges that make for more surface area when you're mowing your lawn.

How to Choose Suitable Mulching Blades

Furthermore, the kind of blade you decide to buy needs to be durable. No one likes buying blades every so often because they lost their efficiency. They should also be easy to clean.

You’ll find two types of mulching blades available in the market:

  • Standard mulching blades
  • Gator mulching blades

The main difference between the standard mulching blade and the gator mulching blade is the shape and the angle of curvature of the cutting edge. Gator blades are usually designed with the angled teeth. These angular teeth are present on each blade and provide a more sophisticated cut when compared to the blades that have plain edges.

Mentioned below are a few things that can help you decide which blade you should go for:

#1. Shape

The shape of the mulching blade is the most important factor. The availability of these blades in different types makes can make it difficult for you to decide which one you should buy as well as the type that’ll fit the lawn mower you own.

Always make sure that you read the specifications about the blade’s shape and the models of lawn mowers it can be used with. Even if someone tries to trick you into buying a blade, saying that it’ll work, don’t take anyone’s word for it. The best mulching blades out there have all their details accompanying the package. So, make an informed buying decision.

#2. Durability

The mulching blades you’re interested in buying should be durable and of high quality. As mentioned above, the blade should be capable of being used for a long time. It’s going to be a nuisance if you’re mowing a lawn and the blades are unable to perform desirably halfway through the task.

#3. Angle of Curvature

Some mulching blades also offer a different angle of curvature for their cutting edges. You might not know this, but the angle of curvature does play a significant role in efficiency. The finishing of the cut as well as the overall area is enhanced due to a greater angle of curvature.

Top 5 Best Mulching Blades

If you're in the market for mulching blades, there is a wide variety for you to choose from. However, only a few of these can be considered as the best mulching blades. You need to take into consideration factors such as the blade's efficiency, design, and quality before buying it.

Below you’ll get to see the five top best mulching blades that you should look into.


Rotary 12963 PK3 Copperhead Mulching Blades

Via Amazon.com

These mulching blades by Rotary are a good choice if you’re looking for blades that fit into a variety of mowers. You can easily fit these blades into the MTD RZT Series, Troy Bilt 17ARCACK011, 1500 Tractors, Z6600 17ARCACK099 and 17AF2ACK099.

The length of these Copperhead Mulching Blades is 18-1/2 inches. They also happen to be 3 inches wide. The Center Hole "H" pattern is featured in these blades. They also have a thickness of about 0.204 inches.

You will get a set of three mulching blades if you’re interested in buying this product. They weigh about 1.4 pounds and are heavy duty. These blades will offer you a clean cut, and they don’t make much noise either.


Advantages

  • Durable blades
  • Can be used for excessive lawn mowing
  • Offer clean cuts
  • Less noisy
  • Can fit in a variety of lawn mowers

Disadvantages

  • Does give rise to a lot of buildups so require cleaning when mowing a large lawn.

Longer Life 595-605 Gator Fusion G5 3-In-1 Set of 3 Mulching Blades

Via Amazon.com

The Genuine Gator 3-in-1 Mulcher Blades secure their position in this list because of their quality make and precise cutting. As the name states, these blades are for 54-inch decks, Poulan Pro, Craftsman, and Husqvarna.

These Oregon mulching blades also happen to be austempered (heat treated). They also have an additional 20% harder steel which enhances their life. Furthermore, the size of these blades makes them a suitable choice for various mulching mowers.

Each blade is 18-1/2 inches long and 2.5 inches wide. The thickness of these gator blades is about 0.187 inches. The featured 5-point holes add to the efficiency. The design of this gator blade is unique. The revolutionized change in its design enables this blade to mulch grass clippings in a better way.


Advantages

  • Are thicker than stock blades
  • Not noisy
  • Easy to install
  • Easy to clean
  • Durable

Disadvantages

  • Some of the expelled grass isn’t finely cut

Stens 340-066 PK2 Set of 2 Mulching Blades

Via Amazon.com

The Stens Mulching Blades offer clean cuts while mowing your lawn. These mulching blades can be used as replacements for AYP 134149, 422719, 24676, 531005085, 424752, 532422719, 531307223, 539110460, 532424752, Craftsman 134149, Poulan 532134149, 531307223 and Husqvarna 777134149, 532134149.

These blades measure 6 x 2 x 0.5 inches in dimensions. Keep in mind that they look dull because they have been painted over after sharpening in order to prevent them from rusting. These are durable blades and will last you quite a while.

If you're interested in this product, you'll receive a set of 2 blades. Another good thing about using these blades is that they're easy to clean. However, you should be careful of any twigs or small stones while mowing as these blades won't be able to handle the damage.


Advantages

  • Painted after sharpening to prevent rust
  • Clean cuts
  • Can fit a variety of lawnmowers
  • Easy to clean.

Disadvantages

  • The noise might be too loud for some users
  • Might not be able to stand a lot of rocks in the way while mowing

4. USA Mower 4-Pack Blades Mulch Formed Blade

Via Amazon.com

A feature that makes the USA Mower Blades standout from a lot of others is that they have been created using local steel, workers, and even paint to ensure the finest product is delivered to you. These blades are ideal if you happen to have Craftsman lawnmowers. They can easily replace the Craftsman OEM 134149.

These blades are 21-inches in length, 2.25-inches in width, and have a thickness of 0.140-inches. They also have a 5-Point Center hole. The side holes measure 0.360 inches. While it's a softer metal, it's more than capable of handling any small rocks or tangling roots that might come in the way while mowing.

While these blades offer impressive performance, you might end up replacing them frequently as they do lose their sharpness after a few uses, especially if you have a large lawn.


Advantages

  • Good quality
  • Durable make
  • Can handle mowing over small rocks and roots
  • Easy to clean

Disadvantages

  • Soft metal
  • Cutting precision tends to fade when used continuously

MTD 942-0741A 21-Inch Replacement Mulching Blade

Via Amazon.com

The MTD Mulching Blade is 21-inches in length with a star center. It also comes with a 90-day warranty and can be replaced if you happen to find any defects in the material or workmanship.

This blade will be covered in protective paint to keep it safe for shipping purposes. So, don’t worry about it being dull as it’ll go back to looking good as soon as you start mowing the lawn.

This blade is easy to install. Even if a lot of buildup occurs you can easily clean the blades and go back to mowing your lawn. Though the performance is impressive, your neighbors might not appreciate how loud these blades are.


Advantages

  • Easy to install
  • Easy to clean
  • Durable
  • Can handle stray twigs and small stones while mowing.

Disadvantages

  • The noise might be too loud for some users
  • Might lose cutting efficiency after a couple of lawn mowing sessions

Final Verdict

Now that you understand more about mulching blades as well as the top 5 best mulching blades you can choose from, the Rotary 12963 PK3 Copperhead Mulching Blades is highly recommended.

This set of blades meets the requirements that you should look for when buying mulching blades. They are durable, and of high-quality so you won't have to be bothered with finding replacements. They can easily be used with a broad range of lawnmowers.

Furthermore, they don't make a lot of noise and are easy to clean. These blades also offer finely cut grass clippings which you can use to nurture the soil of your lawn. While they do give rise to a lot of buildups, they are easy to clean. They're also heavy duty so can be used without any hassle for larger lawns. These blades can withstand small rocks and twigs that you might encounter.

So, go ahead and make sure that you make an informed buying decision when looking for the best mulching blades for your lawn.

About the Author Laura Bennett

Hello, I’m Laura Bennett. I love nature especially when it comes to flowers and different kinds of plants. I started a very small garden behind my house and I named it Humid Garden. So, I created this blog to provide aspiring and inspiring thoughts about gardening for gardeners and anyone who has the intention of keeping a garden.

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