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With a mulching mower, you can basically do two garden jobs at once: you shorten your lawn and fertilize it at the same time - in a particularly natural and environmentally friendly way. You can find out which models are recommended and what you should generally look out for when buying a mulching mower in our guide.
A mulching mower is a very handy piece of equipment
Our recommendations
our recommendation
Dolmar PM4810 petrol mulching mower 48cm
To the product| drive | gasoline (fuel) |
|---|---|
| cutting width | 48 cm |
| cutting height | 25-70mm |
| Weight | 24.3kg |
| Pure mulching mower | Yes |
The DOLMAR model is our mulching mower test winner for three reasons: It is one of the relatively few "real" mulching mowers on the market - i.e. a device that the manufacturer has optimized in every detail for perfect mulching; in addition, the mulching mower proves to be very powerful; and the reviewers at Amazon are enthusiastic about this model. They praise the simple structure, the high quality of the metal parts and the convincing mulching results. Anyone who needs a high-quality mulching mower for larger lawns will make an excellent choice with the DOLMAR model.
our recommendation
IKRA 77003540 cordless lawnmower mulcher IAM 40-4625S wheel drive TwinPower 2x40V collection box 50l cutting width 46cm, 40 V, grey/red/black
300.35 EUR To the product| drive | battery pack |
|---|---|
| cutting width | 46 cm |
| cutting height | 25-75mm |
| Weight | 23.1kg |
| Pure mulching mower | no |
The battery-powered garden tool from IKRA sees itself as a combined lawn and mulching mower. This multifunctionality is well received, especially since both classic lawn mowing and mulch mowing are said to deliver impressive results - according to Amazon reviewers. The advantages that buyers mention are the double battery, which allows longer mowing sessions, and the comfortable wheel drive. However, the latter can apparently lead to the battery dying faster.
our recommendation
AL-KO Comfort 40E electric lawnmower (40 cm cutting width, 1,400 W engine output, cutting height adjustable in 6 positions, incl. 43 l grass catcher with level indicator, for lawn areas up to 600 m²)
167.32 EUR To the product| drive | electric |
|---|---|
| cutting width | 40 cm |
| cutting height | 28-68mm |
| Weight | 19.2kg |
| Pure mulching mower | no |
The practical experiences of Amazon customers with the AL-KO lawn mower and mulching mower are also mostly very positive. Many buyers explicitly emphasize the wonderfully functioning mulch mowing. Taking the product features and reviews together, we think this is a worthy value for money winner and ideal for home gardeners who want to mulch a small oasis of green without breaking the bank.
Purchase Criteria
drive
electric: Electric mulching mowers are easy to use and relatively quiet in operation. In addition, the maintenance effort is kept within limits. The only nuisance is that it requires a power source - that is, a well-positioned outlet - and you're always at risk of tripping or driving over the power cord. The cable also limits the range, which is why an electric mulching mower only makes sense in smaller gardens.
battery pack: In contrast to electric models with cables, cordless mulching mowers offer you complete freedom of movement. However, you need to charge the battery regularly. Since its capacity is usually not sufficient for more than 30 to 45 minutes, you should either always have a second or spare battery ready or only work on smaller lawns.
petrol: When it comes to performance, petrol mulching mowers are unbeatable. They are therefore particularly recommended for large areas of 700 square meters or more. Disadvantages are the high volume (wear hearing protection!) and the required maintenance of the most important parts for operation (checking the oil level, changing the oil, cleaning the spark plugs, draining the petrol). In addition, the petrol-powered mulching mower is more harmful to the environment than the other two variants.
cutting width
Basically, the larger the cutting width of the mulching mower, the faster you can finish mowing. Nevertheless, we advise you to think carefully about whether you should really prefer a pronounced working width.
- Mulching mowers with a large cutting width have problems on lawns with narrow, winding sections. For example, a smaller cutting width is definitely recommended for a lawn with several hedges and trees.
- In the case of a lawn that is largely free of obstacles, you save yourself frequent driving back and forth with a large cutting width.
For most mulching mowers, the cutting width is somewhere between 30 and 50 centimeters.
cutting height
Choose a mulching mower whose cutting height can be infinitely adjusted - within as wide a range as possible.
tips
At the beginning, you should bring tall grass to a height of three to four centimeters in several stages (not all at once!). After that, it is important not to let the grass grow so high (up to a maximum of six centimeters) so that the blades only have to be shortened by a third for the following mowing units.
Weight
At first glance, one would think that lightweight mulching mowers would be better. But the opposite is the case. While lightweight mowers are more compact and easier to store, they are also far less stable. The flyweights among the mulching mowers (around ten kilograms) often do not lie very well on the ground, which can massively disrupt straight-line stability. Thus, a heavier mulching mower is usually the more valuable choice.
tools and accessories
Practical extras and useful accessories for a mulching mower at a glance:
- Wheel drive (motor also drives the wheels making mowing easier - ideal if you have a heavier implement or want to mulch mowing on slopes)
- attachable grass catcher (so that you can also mow in the classic way if necessary)
frequently asked Questions
What is a mulching mower?
Externally, the mulching mower looks just like a normal lawn mower. However, the chopped grass is not caught in a basket with the mulching mower. Instead, the chopped material falls back onto the lawn and serves as fertilizer. The mulch (€239.00) decomposes and naturally closes the soil's nutrient cycle, reducing soil leaching.
By the way: While the blades of normal lawn mowers are straight, the blades of mulching mowers are cranked, causing the grass to swirl around inside the device. This in turn makes the clippings finer.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of mulch mowing?
Benefits:
+ no clippings to dispose of
+ slow, continuous release of nutrients to the soil
+ Species composition of the green garden carpet is preserved
+ favors settlement of earthworms
+ Less fertilizer required
+ particularly environmentally friendly
Disadvantage:
- for perfect results, a dry and short (max. 6 cm) lawn is essential
- more frequent mowing required
- Incorrectly incorporated mulch leads to surface formation, rot and snail infestation
Which is better: lawn mower or mulching mower?
This question cannot be answered unequivocally. Depending on whether you just want to shorten your lawn or also want to fertilize it naturally, you need a conventional lawn mower or a mulching mower. Which variant is better depends on the desired use or effect.
tips
Sometimes there is also the option of retrofitting a mulching mower with a grass catcher and mowing in the classic way or with mulching, as required. There are also numerous lawn mowers with a mulching function (mulch kit). The latter versions are even in the majority - compared to "real" mulching mowers.
our recommendation
HYUNDAI electric lawnmower (LM3301E, 33cm, 1300W)
EUR 79.00 To the productExciting: Various studies, including one from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, have shown that mulch mowing produces a more beautiful lawn than mowing with a conventional lawn mower coupled with separate fertilizer application.
Which brands offer good mulching mowers?
Many well-known brands have solid to first-class mulching mowers in their range. Here are some manufacturers at a glance:
- Husqvarna
- John Deere
- SABO
- Stihl
- VIKING
- AS engine
- Honda
- STIGA
- Makita
- DOLMAR
- toro
- AL-KO
- FUXTEC
- WOLF garden
- KLIPPO
- MTD
- Bosch
- GARDENA
- Kubota
- unanimously
- goodness
How much does a mulching mower cost?
Depending on the quality and manufacturer, mulching mowers and combined lawn/mulching mowers usually cost between 80 and 500 euros. In addition to the "ordinary" mulching mowers, there is also a choice of robotic lawnmowers that do all the mowing and mulching for you. However, at least 800 euros are usually incurred for the mechanical laborer.
tips
At OBI and in some other DIY stores, mulching mowers are not only available for purchase, but also for rent. If you rarely need the garden tool, it can sometimes be worth renting it temporarily for a fee. If you still want to buy a mulching mower but want to save as much money as possible, we recommend that you order the best used mulching mower for your needs.
Is there a mulching mower test by Stiftung Warentest?
No, Stiftung Warentest has not yet addressed the question of which mulching mower is the best. There are only various tests on lawn mowers, some of which are equipped with a mulching function. The last of these comparisons was published in March 2022.
equipment
rake
Work in the clippings thrown onto the lawn with a rake afterwards to prevent dangerous surface formation and the associated rot.