Our recommendations
Dolmar PM4810 petrol mulching mower 48cm
To the product
| drive | Petrol |
|---|---|
| Cutting width | 48 cm |
| Cutting height | 25-70 mm |
| weight | 24.3 kg |
| 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 - a device that the manufacturer offers in every detail perfect Mulching has optimized towards; 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. If you need a high-quality mulching mower for larger lawns, the DOLMAR version is an excellent choice.
IKRA 77003540 cordless lawn mower mulcher IAM 40-4625S wheel drive TwinPower 2x40V collecting box 50l cutting width 46cm, 40 V, gray / red / black
300.35 EURTo the product
| drive | battery pack |
|---|---|
| Cutting width | 46 cm |
| Cutting height | 25-75 mm |
| weight | 23.1 kg |
| Pure mulching mower | no |
The battery-operated 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 mulching mowing should deliver impressive results - according to Amazon reviewers. The buyers name the double battery, which enables longer mowing in one go, and the comfortable wheel drive as advantages. However, the latter can apparently lead to the battery running out faster.
AL-KO electric lawn mower Comfort 40E (40 cm cutting width, 1,400 W motor power, cutting height 6-way adjustable, incl. 43 l grass catcher with level indicator, for lawns up to 600 m²)
167.32 EURTo the product
| drive | Electric |
|---|---|
| Cutting width | 40 cm |
| Cutting height | 28-68 mm |
| weight | 19.2 kg |
| Pure mulching mower | no |
The practical experience of Amazon customers with the AL-KO lawn and mulching mower is also largely very positive. Many buyers explicitly emphasize the wonderfully functioning mulch mowing. With the product features and reviews put together, we think this device is a worthy one Price-performance winner and ideal for hobby gardeners who want to mulch a small green oasis without having to dig too deep into their wallets to have to grab.
Purchase criteria
drive
Electric: Electrically operated mulching mowers are easy to use and relatively quiet in operation. In addition, the maintenance effort is kept within limits. The only annoying thing is that a power source is required - i.e. a well-positioned socket - and you are constantly in danger of tripping over 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 full freedom of movement. However, you do need to charge the battery regularly. Since its capacity is usually not enough for more than 30 to 45 minutes, you should either always have a second or spare battery on hand or only work on smaller lawns.
petrol: Petrol mulching mowers are unbeatable when it comes to performance. That is why they are particularly recommended for large areas of 700 square meters or more. Disadvantages are the high volume (wear ear protection!) And the necessary maintenance of the most important parts for operation (check oil level, change oil, clean spark plugs, drain petrol). In addition, the gasoline-powered mulching mower is more damaging to the environment than the other two variants.
Cutting width
Basically, the larger the cutting width of the mulching mower, the faster you will finish mowing. Nevertheless, we advise you to think carefully about whether you should really prefer a pronounced working width.
- Mulching mowers with large cutting widths 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.
Most mulching mowers have a cutting width somewhere between 30 and 50 centimeters.
Cutting height
Choose a mulching mower with a cutting height that you can continuously adjust - within as large a range as possible.
Tips
At the beginning you should bring high grass in several stages (not all at once!) To a height of three to four centimeters. Then it is important not to let the grass grow so high (up to a maximum of six centimeters) so that the stalks only have to be shortened by a third on the following mower units.
weight
At first you would think that light weight mulchers would be better. But the opposite is the case. Although light mowers are more compact and easier to stow away, they are also far less stable. The flyweights under the mulching mowers (around ten kilograms) are often not too good on the ground, which can massively disrupt straight-line stability. A heavier mulching mower is therefore usually the more valuable choice.
Extras and accessories
Practical extras and useful accessories for a mulching mower at a glance:
- Wheel drive (the motor also drives the wheels and makes mowing easier - ideal for a heavier device or if you want to mulch on a hillside)
- Attachable grass catcher (so that you can mow in the classic way if necessary)
frequently asked Questions
What is a mulching mower?
Externally, the mulching mower looks exactly 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. Of the Mulch(€ 239.00 at Amazon *) naturally rots and closes the soil's nutrient cycle, which is less leaching of the soil.
By the way: while the blades of normal lawnmowers are straight, the blades of mulching mowers are cranked, causing the grass inside the device to swirl. This in turn makes the clippings finer.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of mulching?
Advantages:
+ no clippings to be disposed of
+ slow, continuous release of nutrients to the soil
+ The species composition of the green garden carpet is retained
+ favors the colonization of earthworms
+ less fertilizer required
+ particularly environmentally friendly
Disadvantage:
- for perfect results a dry and short (max. 6 cm) grass elementary
- more frequent mowing necessary
- Incorrectly incorporated mulch leads to surface formation, rot and snail infestation
Which is better: lawn mower or mulching mower?
There is no clear answer to this question. Depending on whether you are simply shortening your lawn or also naturally fertilize 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 a classic or mulching manner, as required. There are also numerous lawnmowers with a mulching function (mulching kit). The latter versions are even in the majority - compared to "real" mulching mowers.
HYUNDAI electric lawn mower (LM3301E, 33cm, 1300W)
79.00 EURTo the product
Exciting: Various studies, including one from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, have shown that mulch mowing A nicer lawn is achieved than mowing with a conventional lawnmower paired with a separate one 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 motor
- Honda
- STIGA
- Makita
- DOLMAR
- Toro
- AL-KO
- FUXTEC
- WOLF garden
- KLIPPO
- MTD
- Bosch
- GARDENA
- Kubota
- Einhell
- Güde
How much does a mulching mower cost?
Mulching mowers and combined lawn / mulching mowers usually cost between 80 and 500 euros, depending on the quality and manufacturer. In addition to the "normal" 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 normally charged for the mechanical unskilled worker.
Tips
At OBI and in some other hardware stores, mulching mowers are sometimes not only available for purchase, but also for rent. If you rarely need the garden tool, it can sometimes be worthwhile to rent it temporarily for a fee. If you would like to buy a mulching mower but 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, the Stiftung Warentest has not yet addressed the question of which mulching mower is the best. There are only various tests on lawnmowers, some of which are equipped with a mulching function. The last of these comparisons was published in March 2019.
equipment
rake
Work in the clippings thrown on the lawn afterwards with a rake in order to prevent dangerous surface formation and associated rotting.
