Always need to rake grass!! What is the secret to not have to?

[Diggin It]

As much as possible, mow when the grass is dry. Dry grass blows more and clumps less. That isn't always possible though. Dew has been so thick at times that the grass doesn't dry until late afternoon when it's a thousand degrees outside. Making a second pass with the deck higher usually helps disperse the clippings better. I adapt my mowing pattern each time based on wind and grass wetness/dryness as I see which way clippings are or aren't blowing.

Bagging or raking ain't a'happenin'. One exception is when I need clippings to cover a newly seeded area. Then I'll use one of the walk behinds with a bag to gather just what I need.

No 'Burban McMansion here and no neighborhood lawn nannies, so no cares about unsightly leavins'.

 

[RjCorazza]

As much as possible, mow when the grass is dry. Dry grass blows more and clumps less. That isn't always possible though. Dew has been so thick at times that the grass doesn't dry until late afternoon when it's a thousand degrees outside. Making a second pass with the deck higher usually helps disperse the clippings better. I adapt my mowing pattern each time based on wind and grass wetness/dryness as I see which way clippings are or aren't blowing.

Bagging or raking ain't a'happenin'. One exception is when I need clippings to cover a newly seeded area. Then I'll use one of the walk behinds with a bag to gather just what I need.

No 'Burban McMansion here and no neighborhood lawn nannies, so no cares about unsightly leavins'.

I try to mow when dry, but that's not always possible for me. I have noticed that lawns with a lot of crab grass do not seem to ever dry out, resulting in clumping. I guess it's so dense and close to the ground that the moisture is trapped for much longer. For the lawns that need to look good, I go over them with a high CFM backpack blower. Sounds labor intensive, but I can blow an acre or two in maybe ten minutes.

I also bag clippings to cover newly seeded areas on occasion... Works very well!

 

[oosik]

I have about an acre and a half of grass. Divided into six distinct areas. I mow in a circular pattern - from the outside - in. Blow the clippings toward the inside. This way all the clippings are always blown to the center. The clippings get well mulched and usually disappear. If there is a final "line" of clippings - mow over it several times - all gone.

 

[KennyG]

Gator Blades, mow dry, remove deflector shield.

 

[sixdogs]

I cured mine by mowing high at 3 1/2" and taking the mower chute off the side. At 540 rpm it blows the grass out far enough if it's even somewhat dry. I've seen guys mow at too slow of a PTO speed and leave windrows. Same with mowing too short.

If mowing high and removing chute don't fully work, switch to mulching blades.

 

[chim]

Many good ideas. I also TRY to mow when the grass is dry. Not always possible with my other activities. Tuesday evening I started around 10:30 PM and the dew was already on the grass. There's always an optimum RPM to run the mower. It varies with the condition of the grass. Tuesday it was running the mower at a touch under 400 RPM's. In the dry grass last week it was around 450. Forward speed of the tractor also plays a role.

I quit raking. The last two rear decks have been rear discharge. They work better than the previous side discharge decks. On this particular deck I have the rear deflector (about 8" wide piece of metal that spans the rear) removed. In heavier or wetter grass it was interfering with the deck's ability to spread the clippings. On the side discharge decks I ran without the chute extensions.

I no longer rake, but did it a number of times many years ago. The procedure was to mow one day, then re-mow the next day after the cut grass dried some. Then I used the side discharge deck to gather the dried grass into wind rows. Raking was a matter of gathering the 5-ish foot wide wind row.

 

[shooterdon]

Not a mmm like yours but gator mulching blades on my rider do a better job than regular blades.

 

[SDT]

I cured mine by mowing high at 3 1/2" and taking the mower chute off the side. At 540 rpm it blows the grass out far enough if it's even somewhat dry. I've seen guys mow at too slow of a PTO speed and leave windrows. Same with mowing too short.

If mowing high and removing chute don't fully work, switch to mulching blades.

The dischrage chute on my B1750HSDT with 60" terrain following MMM is spring loaded to be either fully up or in "down" position. It has been in the fully up position since the day I bought it home in 1993.

SDT

 

[SDT]

I have about an acre and a half of grass. Divided into six distinct areas. I mow in a circular pattern - from the outside - in. Blow the clippings toward the inside. This way all the clippings are always blown to the center. The clippings get well mulched and usually disappear. If there is a final "line" of clippings - mow over it several times - all gone.

Strongly disagree.

I usually mow in perimeter pattern as well but always discharge to the outside (sometimes excepting first round or two to avoid discharging onto buildings, etc. This was recommended practice in every owner's manual that I have ever seen from the mid 50s until pattern recommendations were removed from most manuals some time ago.

Takes less HP and fuel and does not require that I get out the rake and baler when finished.

SDT

 

[SDT]

Many good ideas. I also TRY to mow when the grass is dry. Not always possible with my other activities. Tuesday evening I started around 10:30 PM and the dew was already on the grass. There's always an optimum RPM to run the mower. It varies with the condition of the grass. Tuesday it was running the mower at a touch under 400 RPM's. In the dry grass last week it was around 450. Forward speed of the tractor also plays a role.

I quit raking. The last two rear decks have been rear discharge. They work better than the previous side discharge decks. On this particular deck I have the rear deflector (about 8" wide piece of metal that spans the rear) removed. In heavier or wetter grass it was interfering with the deck's ability to spread the clippings. On the side discharge decks I ran without the chute extensions.

I no longer rake, but did it a number of times many years ago. The procedure was to mow one day, then re-mow the next day after the cut grass dried some. Then I used the side discharge deck to gather the dried grass into wind rows. Raking was a matter of gathering the 5-ish foot wide wind row.

Strongly agree, Chim.

I never mow when either the ground or the grass is wet or damp.

That said, I am retired so have more options than when I was not, and fully realize than many of you do not have such options.

SDT