Best battery powered self propelled mulching lawn mower

A lot of people mow their lawns and collect the grass clippings in a collection bag before disposing of them in the garden waste. This is great because this waste will likely be recycled by your council. However, there is a more environmentally friendly way, using a good cordless mulching lawn mower, that will benefit your own garden and produce a healthier, thicker and disease resistant lawn.

Mulching is a simple and effective way to deliver nutrients back into the ground, providing all the benefits that a well and organically fertilised lawn will exhibit. However, you cannot mulch with just any lawn mower, you must have a mower that has been designed for this purpose.

Lawn mowers that have the ability to mulch can be purchased in varying power types from petrol, electric, cordless and, of course, robotic. In this article we will look specifically at cordless models as they offer not only the flexibility of mulching, but also easier manoeuvrability as they are not tethered by the cord and are lower maintenance compared to petrol mowers.

If like myself, you prefer a cordless mower, the good news is that there are plenty of these available with mulching functionality included. In this article, we are going to be looking at some of the best cordless mulching models currently available on the UK market and giving you some great advice about mulching to get you started.

In a Hurry?

Before we jump into the reviews, I understand that some of you could be pushed for time. If you don’t have time to read my in-depth cordless mulching lawn mower reviews, I have listed my top selections below for your convenience.

Best All-rounder

Best Budget

Best For Small Lawns

Best for Medium Lawns

Greenworks G40LM41K2X Cordless Lawnmower for Lawns up to 500m², 41cm...

swift 40V 37cm Cordless Lawnmower, Brushless Battery Lawn Mower with...

Hyundai 13"/33cm 40V Lithium-Ion Cordless Battery Powered Roller Lawn...

Murray 2x18V (36V) Lithium-Ion 37cm Cordless Lawn Mower IQ18WM37,...

Best All-rounder

Greenworks G40LM41K2X Cordless Lawnmower for Lawns up to 500m², 41cm...

Best Budget

swift 40V 37cm Cordless Lawnmower, Brushless Battery Lawn Mower with...

Best For Small Lawns

Hyundai 13"/33cm 40V Lithium-Ion Cordless Battery Powered Roller Lawn...

Best for Medium Lawns

Murray 2x18V (36V) Lithium-Ion 37cm Cordless Lawn Mower IQ18WM37,...

Last update on 2022-11-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Best for Larger Lawns

Best Value

Best Self-Propelled

Best Petrol Alternative

Kärcher 18v Lawn Mower LMO 18-33 Battery Set, Incl. 18v Battery and...

Hyundai 18"/45cm Cordless 80v Lithium-Ion Battery Self Propelled...

Einhell GE-CM 36/47 S HW Li Power X-Change Dual 36V Cordless Lawn...

Best for Larger Lawns

Best Value

Kärcher 18v Lawn Mower LMO 18-33 Battery Set, Incl. 18v Battery and...

Best Self-Propelled

Hyundai 18"/45cm Cordless 80v Lithium-Ion Battery Self Propelled...

Best Petrol Alternative

Einhell GE-CM 36/47 S HW Li Power X-Change Dual 36V Cordless Lawn...

Last update on 2022-11-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Last update on 2022-11-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

What’s So Good About Mulching Anyway?

You will often hear me talking about mulching and the benefits of doing it, and I am not alone in my opinions here. Many garden enthusiasts are eager to mulch, but really, is it such a big deal?

Simply put, mulching is a way of recycling your grass clippings by delivering them back to the ground. Once here, they will start to decompose and release essential nutrients that will help your grass stay thick and healthy. Who doesn’t want a lush, green lawn?

But the benefits of mulching do not stop here. You will notice that if the weather gets warmer (and that’s a big if in the UK) your lawn will be far less likely to dry out. Of course, I would still recommend watering your lawn as well during long dry periods and drought. Furthermore, the amount of moss that builds up on your lawn will be significantly reduced and you won’t notice nearly as many weeds.

If all of that wasn’t enough, there is the fact that this is a much more environmentally friendly option since you won’t be using chemical fertilisers and it will save you time when mowing.

5 Best Cordless Mulching Lawn Mowers

10 Best Cordless Mulching Lawn Mower Reviews

Select your requirements by ticking the applicable checkboxes below; so I can help you pick the perfect mulching cordless lawn mower.

What Is A Mulching Mower?

In order to mulch, you must have either a dedicated mulching mower or a mower that has the ability to mulch. There are hundreds of mowers out there that offer this feature, but how it works is a different matter – we will look at that in a little more detail later on.

On a mower that does not mulch, the lawn clippings are cut from the grass and directly deposited into the grass collection bag. This is an efficient method for the purpose but when delivering the clippings back to the lawn, your mower needs to chop them up a lot more finely.

This is where a mulching mower really comes into its own. A lot of people believe that the grass clippings are deposited directly back onto the lawn but in reality, these powerful mowers circulate them to chop them up into a finer material before sending them back down to the ground. Furthermore, the mulching mower will also have the ability to push these grass clippings closer to the surface of the ground, allowing the nutrients and moisture to penetrate more easily.

Choosing The Right Type Of Cordless Mulching Lawn Mower

You could be forgiven for thinking that all cordless mulching mowers were made equal; but nothing in life is ever that simple. But that doesn’t mean to say that choosing your mulching mower has to be a headache-inducing task. Far from it. You simply need to know whether you would benefit more from a dedicated mulching mower or one that has other mowing features. Let’s take a look at the two types.

Dedicated Cordless Mulching Lawn Mowers

Dedicated mulching mowers only have this one feature and they are great if you live in a place where the weather is consistent. If you live somewhere where there is a lot of rainfall, like the UK, this may not be the best option. Quite simply, trying to mow wet grass with a mulching mower can cause it to clog up and the performance will be drastically reduced. That being said, you should also make sure to stick to only cutting a third of the current lawn height. The reason for this is that cutting too much can overwhelm the mower and once again, cause the deck to become clogged. Moreover cutting the lawn too short means it is unable to absorb light and moisture, and may become stressed and brown – simply not recommended for the health of your lawn.

The huge advantage of a dedicated mulching mower is that they offer a much more powerful mulching function than a multifunctional model. The reason for this is that the deck of these mowers has been designed for improved airflow which is necessary to keep the clippings moving as the blades slice them up into the fine matter that will be given back to the lawn.

In these models, the clippings will move in a vortex which means they can pass over the blades multiple times.

Multifunctional Cordless Mulching Lawn Mowers

Conversely, a 2-in-1, 3-in-1 or 4-in-1 mower will give you a wide variety of options. Typically, you will see mowers that have a cut and collect option along with either mulching, rear discharge or side discharge, or indeed, a combination of any of these features. Which you choose will vastly depend on how you wish to use the mower.

These multi-purpose machines usually come with a mulching plug which will convert them from a collection mower into a mulching one. To be honest here in the UK, I would highly recommend these multifunctional cordless models over that of a dedicated mulching mower. Why? Well because of the changing seasons and unpredictable weather. Having the ability to swich between these different cutting modes means that you will always be able to cut the lawn to suit its requirements, seasonal and weather variations, ensuring the best possible health and condition of your lawn.

In summary, I hope you can see that with these multi-cutting cordless lawn mowers you will enjoy the freedom and versatility they provide.

How To Get The Best Mulching Results With A Cordless Mulching Mower

Buying a good cordless mulching mower is an essential part of success, but approaching the job in the right way can also help to yield some wonderful mulching results. It might not be as complicated as you might first think to achieve a golf course standard lawn.

• Always follow the one third rule; cutting no more than a third of the total grass length in any one mowing session.
• Your mower blades should always be sharp in order to effectively cut the clippings down to the right size. However, mulching does take its toll on the blades so you may need to sharpen them more often than on other mowers.
• When using a cordless mulching mower, it is better to cut the grass slightly longer than you would when using a cut and collect system. You should aim for an extra 1 centimetre.
• It is difficult to mulch when the grass is damp or wet, so it is recommended to mulch when the grass is dry to achieve good results. If you need to water the grass, be sure to do this after mulching and never before.

Conclusion

Mulching is an effective and natural way to give nutrients back to your lawn to keep it looking green, disease free, lush and dense. There are mowers that have been designed with only this purpose in mind and others that form part of a more diverse mowing system. Generally, cordless lawn mowers are low maintenance and the fact that your mower will mulch doesn’t change the amount of minimal maintenance it will require.

There are, of course, pros and cons to each of these types of cordless mulching mowers and which you choose will depend on several factors. You should carefully consider which model you go for and when you use your new mulching mower, be sure to follow my top tips to make sure you get the best results.

So, if you have decided that a cordless mulching mower is the way to go, you then have to decide which model is best suited to your lawn size and circumstances. To assist you with this process, why not head over to my easy to use lawn mower selection tool to quickly and easily shortlist your perfect cordless mulching mower.

Cordless Mulching Lawn Mower FAQs

Do Mulching Lawn Mowers Really Work?

A mulching lawn mower is designed to circulate the grass clippings around the cutting deck, finely chopping them before delivering them back to the lawn as a natural fertiliser. Provided that you purchase from a reputable brand, there is no reason that your cordless mulching lawn mower won’t do an effective job. There are some exceptions where a mulching lawn mower will not work, such as exceptionally long / neglected lawns and when the grass is wet.

What’s The Disadvantage Of Mulching?

Mulching is, for the most part, a great way to ensure that you have a lush, healthy, green lawn. However, if you mulch when the grass is too long, then a layer of grass can build up and this can be a hiding place for insects that could damage the lawn. Moreover, too much mulch could deprive the grass of sunlight, so it’s important to mulch on a regular basis to ensure that you are only cutting 1/3 off the overall length of the grass and the grass is dry.

How Often Should You Mulch When Mowing?

It’s good practice to use the mulching function on your mower whenever you notice that the current layer of mulch has done its job. You might notice signs of decomposition, discoloration of the grass, which will tell you that you need to go through the mulching process again. If you cut your grass on a regular basis during the growing season, you may want to consider using the mulching option every time, as the amount of mulched grass will be less and will therefore provide consistent natural fertiliser to boost the health of your lawn.

Why Does My Mulching Mower Leave Clumps Of Grass?

Your cordless mulching mower should not leave behind any visible signs that you have mulched. If you notice clumps of grass this is likely because you have attempted to mow the lawn while it is wet. However, if the grass is dry, the problem could be that you have let it grow too long in between cutting sessions.

How Often Should You Sharpen Mulching Blades?

It’s important to keep your cordless mulching mower in good condition by applying some simple maintenance techniques. It is recommended to sharpen the blades for every 25 hours of use which works out to be around twice per season if you are mowing once a week.

Does Mulching Grass Spread Weeds?

While a lot of people believe it, the idea that mulching spreads grass weeds is a common misconception. Mulching will not worsen thatch or weeds provided that you only ever cut a third of the blade during each mow. This is why it is incredibly important to select the right cutting height.

Is It Better To Mulch or Side Discharge Grass?

If you have a cordless mulching mower, you’ll probably have noticed that it has some other functions. Typically, this will be collection, rear discharge and/or side discharge. The side and rear discharge functions will also deliver clippings back onto the lawn but unlike mulching mode, they will not be finely chopped and so cannot penetrate right down to the roots to provide that important nutrition. Therefore, as a result mulching is by far the better choice for a healthy lawn.

How Long Does The Battery Last On A Cordless Mulching Mower?

The battery on your cordless mulching mower may have a run time that is anywhere between thirty and sixty minutes. This will largely depend on the voltage of the battery; for bigger lawns, you should go for something more powerful. In terms of lifespan, you can expect your cordless mulching mower battery to last between three and five years depending on how well it is taken care of. This works out to be around 500 charges. It is worth noting that mulching the grass cuttings puts the mower under a slightly more stress, and therefore reduces the run time of the battery by around 10%.

How Does A Cordless Mulching Mower Work?

A cordless mulching mower runs on battery power so you will need to be prepared to recharge your batteries as you use them. You will use a mulching plug which fits into the back of the lawn mower preventing the clippings from coming out the back. These clippings are then blown around the deck using the blades circulation, so that they can be finely chopped before being blown back onto the grass to act as a fertilizer.

What Size Cordless Mulching Mower Do I Need?

The size of the lawn mower you will need will depend on the size of the garden you are mowing. This is given as a cutting width in centimetres; the larger the lawn, the larger the mower you will need to get the job done in a reasonable amount of time. Whether you use the mulching function on your lawn mower or any of the other mowing functions, this won’t affect the size of the mower needed.

Do All Cordless Lawn Mowers Have The Ability To Mulch the Grass Cuttings?

Not all lawn mowers have the ability to mulch the grass cuttings. Some lawn mowers allow you to purchase the mulching plug as an optional extra, whilst others come provided with both the mulching blade and mulching plug. However, there are many cordless lawn mowers that simply do not provide the option to mulch.

Do You Have To Mow Slower When Mulching?

When using your cordless mulching mower, you may need to mow slightly more slowly to reap the full benefit of this feature. This is especially true if the grass is slightly longer and denser, as the blades may rip the grass rather than cutting it.

Do Mulching Blades Dull More Quickly?

The amount of time that the blade makes contact with the grass when mulching is more than when it makes contact with regular mowing. This means that the blades will likely need to be sharpened more frequently.

Can You Purchase A Dedicated Mulching Lawn Mower?

Yes, you can purchase a dedicated mulching lawn mower, but these tend to be limited to petrol mowers as opposed to cordless mowers. Cordless mulching mowers will have multiple cutting options that include not only the ability to mulch but cut and collect, rear and side discharge.

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