Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
You will find that if you are mulching with that Honda, it tends to leave the trail of clippings on the LEFT side of the lawn mower. Why it does this, I do not know. But it definitely does. So the recommendation to mow counter-clockwise is made so that you pick up that trail of clippings on each subsequent pass so you don't have windrows of grass clippings in your yard.
To mow counter-clockwise because the mower leaves clippings on the left side is a plausible explanation. But what's strange is that the side discharge is on right side and the front/leading edge of the blade is turning clockwise or right. You would think that would mean the clippings would clump to the right. But the counter argument could be that right side is where the clippings have the most momentum and volume and that's why the side discharge is on the right and when mulching the clippings clump on the left. Also the effect the mower deck has on the clippings is probably a factor to clumping.
It also assumes you will mow over a portion of the previous cut area to pick up any clumps. When side discharging the suggestion is to mow counter-clockwise too so as not to discharge into the cut area. That makes sense for discharging but I guess then re-mowing over clippings is not a goal lol.
I just wonder if mulching counter-clockwise the operation of the blade and deck just mulches the grass better and leaves less stand ups irrespective of any clippings trail. Honda sort of suggest that, but goes into no real details or explanation of why that would be.
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My staggered-wheel Lawn-Boy is the opposite. When mulching, it leaves the trail of clippings on the RIGHT side of the lawn mower. So the recommendation is to mow clockwise, so that trail of clippings is picked up on each subsequent pass.
And doesn't that mower have a Honda engine (and blade?)? So the blade spin direction doesn't seem to be the deciding factor, and even if it isn't a Honda motor I think most mower motors turn clockwise anyway.
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This trail, however, is only left if you're mulching tall grass. I mow frequently enough where there's never really a trail left behind; as long as there is no trail left behind, it doesn't really matter which direction you mow.
Not to discount the trail suggestion, but I don't mow that regularly, usually mulch clockwise and I haven't really noticed a trail. Maybe my grass while tall, isn't that thick. I do get some stand ups though (I realize that's also a factor of the grass and blade sharpness and condition). So back to what I said earlier, I wonder if mulching counter-clockwise might some how mulch the clippings finer and also leave less stand ups.
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In fact, I usually don't mow in a circular pattern, and usually mow one straight stripe, turn around 180 degrees and mow the next straight stripe, etc. Why? Because I'm incredibly OCD and I never liked the wheel tracks left behind when you inevitably mow yourself into the center of the yard when doing it in a circle. You have to cross a straight stripe *somewhere*. I always liked mowing left to right for that reason, and I could get the mower off the yard on one side or the other without having to cross it.
Yeah...I'm sick.
I see some others do that and it leaves a nice straight lines looks. I mow circular/rectangle. Then the yard doesn't have noticeable lines. It just seems like a lot more work constantly doing sharp 180s especially up against obstacles like a fence. Is it really? Not really sure but I think it's easier to do two 90s (actually I try to round these turns to less than 90 degrees for speed), meanwhile cutting the ends so the distance is shortening. It seems more efficient and I'm all for being efficient
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