Rear or Side discharge

[1Random1]

Hello,

I am currently in the market to buy a lawn mower as my grass is about knee high already.

I have done all the reading I can before deciding to sign up to a forum and ask few things.

Rear Discharge vs Side Discharge.

Most forums I have been able to read, blogs etc on the internet all state "why the rear discharge decks are better" - Most of it is because:

1: You can mow close to things on both sides of the deck
2: They don't use as much power to do it with
3: They apparently cut faster than side discharge making the job get done quicker (so better on fuel as well)
4: They discharge the grass better/more evenly preventing clumping that side discharge mowers tend to make.

That has been the general consensus I found from all the blogs/entries/websites that give you the differences between both and I have read many people on this forum and other forums saying "I will never buy a side discharge again, windrowing is horrible, rear discharge does a much better job bla bla bla" Which is pretty much the same consensus as the above 4 points.

Here is where I am stuck though.

I have contacted all the mower companies directly, Kubota, Hustler, Woods etc.

From what they are telling me the side discharge mowers are the ones that actually leave a better finish on the lawn than the rear (which is now the opposite of all the above)... and the logical reason is simple.

With a rear discharge mower... it may 'disperses' the grass better behind it not clumping etc... but the grass is left on the cut lawn. So if the grass is knee high, That is going to leave a lawn that needs to be raked up, theres no 2 ways about that.

Side discharge on the other hand throws the grass to the side... if you mow in the direction of the discharge, theres 2 ways to mow:
1: Start on the external side and mow clockwise towards the centre
2: start in the middle and work anticlock wise towards the outside.

In both situations the grass is being thrown into the grass you are cutting next and thus it is not left on the nicely cut grass. This allows you to chop the grass even finer as you go over the cut clippings.

The point is, side chute throws it away from where you have cut which keeps the ground clean where it has been cut while rear discharge leaves the mess on the grass you cut because it well, just leaves it there on top.

Question 1:

So why do people say that the rear discharge clumping, windrowing etc etc is better on rear discharge when it just leaves the mess behind on the grass when side chute actually throws it away from where you have cut keeping the cut area clean with no grass/clumping of any sort?

Question 2:

what if rear discharge mowers are used with sweepers/bags... would that eliminate the mess left behind while still giving the advantage of the speed of cut/able to cut close to things on both sides etc?

Essentially im trying to get an idea of whether to get a side discharge or rear discharge and whatever problems each may have, is the problem fixable via something else eg: bag, sweepers, etc, kind of eliminating the short comings while keeping the advantage.

Question 3:

Zero turn mowers vs traditional tractors that you attach a mowing blade too... what works better? Everywhere I ever grew up on acreages people use a tractor with a blade behind and just cut the whole field (up/down,hills etc) - what advantage is there to Zero turn vs tractors? Are zero turns more for football field, golf courses etc while tractors for bush type farms or?

 

[JerryK]

[ popcorn being pop'd as we speak ] A lot depends on how often you plan on cutting it, what result you want [ lawn like, or just field cutting ], what shape the contour of the ground is, how sandy/dusty of a soil condition, and a million other things I can not think of at the moment. I tend to be in the camp of ZTR cuts best for a lawn like result, but not too handy if you are wacking many acres of field only occasionally. I looked into rear discharge in the past, and almost bit .... but ended up getting another side discharge ZTR. Good luck, Jerry...

 

[Monster5601]

When I was shopping for a new mower, my dealer's response was, "the only rear discharge mowers I sell are to cemeteries. They do not want to blow clipping on the graves." So I bought another side discharge.

I never had "clumping" but that may be more of a property of the mower's blade speed and the moisture content of the grass. I also run a commercial-grade mower (Kubota ZD323).

Is putting a collection system on a rear discharge even possible?

I opted to run a zero turn over my tractor because the ZT travels faster and can maneuver around obstacles (e.g. trees) easier. I use to cut with the tractor, the ZT reduced my cut time by 40%.

 

[dodge man]

Do you normally wait so long to mow. Knee high is pretty extreme for a regular mower and is more for a brush cutter. I can’t recommend one over the other another alternative is a mulching kit. The key to the problem is to mow more often.

 

[seville009]

Zero turn mowers are much quicker and, if you get one with a suspension, much easier on your back.

With respect to rear vs side discharge, I opted for side because I think it disperses the cuttings better. The closest comparison is my brush hog. Not a rear or side discharge, of course, and different from a finish mower, but that leaves piles where I mow.

 

[chim]

If mowing would be the ONLY task, I'd probably look at a zero turn. Lawn care outfits using them and they do a nice job. During mowing season I see them early in the morning cutting wet grass and blowing what looks more like a fine mist rather than clippings.

I really enjoy tractors and what they can do in addition to mowing. Although it was barely used it this year, the tractor is wearing an 8' snow plow at present. It has a fairly robust loader that is easy on and off and will lift about a ton. The 3 point hitch with rear blades, landscape rake, etc come in handy too.

Had 2 side and most recent were 3 rear discharge decks. The important thing about mowing is to do it frequently enough to avoid generating excessive clippings in the first place. Regardless of the mower, if the grass is way too long you'll have a mess. I have 3-1/2 acres and wouldn't even think about gathering clippings. With the tractor and mower I have now, it takes me under 1-1/2 hours at a leisurely pace.

 

[RjCorazza]

I cut commercially with 2 Kubota ZD mowers, both side discharge with chute blockers. In anything but short dry grass rear discharge decks have always clumped and/ or windrowed for me. YMMV.
I have never seen a bagger for a rear discharge deck.

Zero turn machines will out perform standard tractor mowers hands down. They're faster, more maneuverable, and generally more comfortable and stable. In wide open areas my 60" zero turn will significantly out perform my 84" tractor finish mower.

As implied in other posts, folks have varying opinions. I am only stating my experience. I could NEVER go back to a standard lawn mower, and would not use a rear discharge deck.

 

[mikester]

If you are in the habit of cutting knee high grass DONT get a ZTR. I would get a rear discharge 3PH bush hog for the tractor and more HP the better.

If you are mowing a nice lawn and like a nice finish and FAST mowing speed Id get a side discharge ZTR. From my experience the rear discharge leaves clumping trails behind you where side discharge spreads it out. When I use gator mulching blades on taller grass with side discharge I get more clumping. Avoid wet and or tall grass with the ZTR for best results.

 

[RalphVa]

Buy a no discharge mower or one with that option. That's what our 3 walkbehinds are. All mulch.

Ralph

 

[ruffdog]

Knee high grass? Buy a bagger.

 

[zzvyb6]

Knee high grass? Buy a bagger.

Better yet, buy a baler.

 

[oosik]

I have 80 acres of mostly open grass land. The house & outbuildings are fences off in around 8 of the 80 acres. The neighbors cows are randomly let in on the open 72 acres. They clip off the grass just great - they are rear discharge - their "piles" are completely biodegradable. Everybody is happy/satisfied. My wildfire problems are reduced, no blades to sharpen, no mower to maintain, no fuel to purchase.

 

[Xfaxman]

My preference is my Recycle Deck:

For knee high grass ground speed would be very slow or two passes with the deck set high on first pass.

 

[dieselscout80]

I have 80 acres of mostly open grass land. The house & outbuildings are fences off in around 8 of the 80 acres. The neighbors cows are randomly let in on the open 72 acres. They clip off the grass just great - they are rear discharge - their "piles" are completely biodegradable. Everybody is happy/satisfied. My wildfire problems are reduced, no blades to sharpen, no mower to maintain, no fuel to purchase.

What hoot. :thumbsup:

 

[Thomas]

Mowing knee high grass your facing long time in the seat and grass clumping also strain on the mower belt,you know of anyone or rent flail mower?

 

[BrkMstr]

I have a 72 finish rear - had a side for many years - I do not want a cab, enjoy the open - the rear does a nice job and the dust / debris are behind me - but I mow once a week not interested in being on the cover of home & garden - just want a neat / nice looking job, it cuts nice, I do not bag it, with the rear I find it spreads it more than the side and I do not see the clumping I had with the side but that's my opinion. My neighbor has a nice JD ZeroTurn, has a sprinkler system, feeds it two or three times a year, he mows / bags it, loves working on the perfect green, that's what he enjoys - different strokes for different folks.....

 

[1Random1]

I have a 72 finish rear - had a side for many years - I do not want a cab, enjoy the open - the rear does a nice job and the dust / debris are behind me - but I mow once a week not interested in being on the cover of home & garden - just want a neat / nice looking job, it cuts nice, I do not bag it, with the rear I find it spreads it more than the side and I do not see the clumping I had with the side but that's my opinion. My neighbor has a nice JD ZeroTurn, has a sprinkler system, feeds it two or three times a year, he mows / bags it, loves working on the perfect green, that's what he enjoys - different strokes for different folks.....

Can you elaborate on this?

I guess not having used it logic tells me... "ok it spreads nicer than the side" - but there is a BUT in all that... the clippings "are" left on the cut lawn. Does not side discharge 'throw' them away from the lawn?

So even though it may clump things up 'on the side' --- the area you mowed is perfectly clean because it got discharged off to the side rather than left on top of the mowed area?

This is what I am not getting. The side chute is on the right hand side. Lets say you make a strip top down... you dont then do the next line right next to it throwing the new cut lawn back over the top of the part you already mowed... go in long squares always keeping the discharged clippings 'off' the area you mowed... does that not leave a cleaner finish than the rear that just leaves it on the grass you mowed?

I guess for intended use... I have a couple acres, I like the cow idea (thats what has always been done to keep the grass short) but wanting to fence off a couple acres around the home to mow nicely (less snake problems etc). If I just want to cut the grass once every couple weeks just to keep it 'neat and tidy'... which one will be easier/faster to do the job with and leave a cleaner finish? - If no bag etc is desired.. just cut and be done with it... type mowing with clean results. I don't like to finish mowing and then look at the whole area I cut and see all this loose stuff on top. Short of then raking it all up and losing all day doing that (can't be bothered)... in this context would the side or rear leave the 'more raked up' look? - Again logic tells me side - only because it throws the grass away from where I did mow rather than leaving it on there (making it look like it needs to be raked up)... but I may be missing something.

 

[paulfun9]

Attempting to throw the cut grass one direction would just end with me having a stalled mower as it piled up. No way to throw that much grass far enough to not land where I had to cut next, then when cut on the next pass the next gets harder to cut. End result is having a bunch of areas the grass would need raked from.
Rear discharge leaves a more wide spread trail behind. If cut regularly it’s not visible from a distance most times and if it is it’s dry and fallen in by the next morning with no windrows at all.

I simply can’t understand your logic in always having someplacevto blowvthe clippings with a side discharge. Here it won’t work I’ve tried and will never buy an other side discharge mower again.

 

[PA hayseed]

I cut 9 acres all the time with two pieces of equipment a woods zero turn and a rear finish mower (rear discharge) on my tractor. I don't care what you cut with, if your grass is kneee high it won't spread out from any device, and it will take forever to cut (unless you raise the deck and make multiple passes). Once cut, if you maintain your grass, there is little discharge on the yard from a rear finish mower. When I cut the biggest section of field that gets the heaviest grass, I use the tractor. Everything else is zero turn due to speed and closeness of the cut. THe zero turn cannot get under the trees though, but I can back up with the rear finish mower and hit it, reducing my weed wack time substantially.

If your using a box pattern, pushing your grass clippings all in one direction, you will eventually have too thick of a mess to mow on the next row (unless it is extremely short and dry or you bag it). I like the grass clippings that are left on my field, they help fill in the low spots, as long as you always cut one direction one time then cross cut the next (keep alternating). If you cut the same exact way every time, it is likely you will develop ruts and dips. One or two wet cuts and you will know what I mean.

 

[lennyzx11]

I mow 8 acres for a really nice lawn. It’s a job in season. Especially when by myself which is often.
I use the time to drink beer and listen to audiobooks in peace and quiet though.

With a tractor, brush hog, flail mower, PTO finish mower, push mower, jd rider, and two Dixie choppers on the place.
Hands down my best way in respect to time and ease is to use the ztr s. They also cut down on weed eater time. The tractor has ag tires and it will tear up the main yard in a hurry if not very careful.

1. Only cut 1/3 of the length of grass and let it blow out and lay.
This is best even if you end up mowing twice because it got too long on you.

2. Going to bag much?
Get a dumper box like Protero or Peco. My conventional bagger is a PITA.the dump box on one of the Dixie choppers is the cake. Everyone fights to get that ride.

3. Waited to long due to rain, laziness, whatever? Tractor with flail mower usually.

4. Brush hog anything that got over 12” high.

5. PTO finish mower on tractor only gets used to back into and under stuff to fight back encroaching growth and if both the ztr s and the rider are claimed.
I would rather do that than run the push mower or weed eater!