How to Mow without a Grass Catcher or Rake

Freshly Mowed Lawn

Everyone loves the look of a freshly mowed lawn, but raking cut grass is a pain. You can use a grass catcher but you still have to bag the cut grass, which means you have to stop periodically and lift the heavy grass catcher.

You can buy a mulching mower, but even these mowers leave some clippings. There is an easier way.

Instructions

1. Take the grass catcher bag off of your lawnmower if you have one. Make sure that the guard is down and properly attached on the side discharge. Anything you hit with the mower blade will blow out of the side discharge.

2. Start on the outer edge of the lawn. Select a fairly large square in the yard. Make sure that you have clearly identified the full length of the square you select. It is best to cut a square that stops at any paved surfaces. The cut grass will blow over the paved surfaces and not get fully cut. You will use this square as your outer guide.

3. Make sure that the side discharge is aimed toward the inside of the square. Make sure that you continually mow in the same direction. If your discharge is on the right side of the mower, keep the right side inside of the square. Right side discharge requires a clockwise rotation, whereas a left side discharge requires a counter clockwise rotation.

4. The discharged cut grass will be in your path on your next rotation. Once you reach the center of the square you can move on to a new section of the yard. The sections, as described in Step 2, should be as large as you can mow without going off of the grass. My front yard is broken up by a walkway, so I cut one side and then the other.

Tips & Warnings

• Cut in large squares.

• Do not include paved surfaces in your squares.