OV9

Well the old Honda has departed us. No longer fit for service she was a year shy of her silver jubilee. 24 years on the frontlines had taken a toll on her chassis leaving it physically twisted. The engine was separated and the rest of her given a Viking send off. A 21 gun salute ensued. What remained was deposited at the front garden for the scrap angels to collect.
Flags at half mast until Monday.

After the shenanigans when my ride-on was delivered back from service with the collector chute not mounted correctly leading to the insides filling up with cut grass, yesterday was my first full mow with it this season. And only on about the fourth or fifth pass did I notice that I’d not put the mulching plug in so there was a beautiful plume of grass clippings soaring high in the air behind me My own fault this time. I’d been cutting on the highest setting because of the quite long uneven growth over winter and was surprised it didn’t seem to be struggling. It was leaving a really nice finish so I actually left it out and finished the lawn, trying to make sure I wasn’t aiming the plume of clippings at the drive. I think I’ll get a rear discharge chute (which directs the clippings down at the ground) because I think mulching would have left a poor finish and collecting - my only other option currently - would have been a pain.

OK Lawn experts - some advice.

I'm about to give ours it's first cut of the year before aerating and treating the moss. Is it better to mulch the clippings and leave them or is it better to collect them for this first cut ??

Cheers in advance

dinny_g wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 10:32 am OK Lawn experts - some advice.

I'm about to give ours it's first cut of the year before aerating and treating the moss. Is it better to mulch the clippings and leave them or is it better to collect them for this first cut ??

Cheers in advance

Where is the other Tim when you need him?

I’d collect, but I don’t have any scientific reason for that.

I may have to also start contributing to this thread. I'll have actual grass that needs cutting soon for the first time since renting a flat in Hammersmith the best part of two decades ago. Thing is its not huge so I'm not sure it justifies a petrol mower, however, the faff of tangled cables with an electric version does not appeal.

This thread may be for you GG - robot mowers

viewtopic.php?p=250422&hilit=robot+mowers#p250422

There are battery powered mowers these days too...

dinny_g wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 10:32 am OK Lawn experts - some advice.

I'm about to give ours it's first cut of the year before aerating and treating the moss. Is it better to mulch the clippings and leave them or is it better to collect them for this first cut ??

Cheers in advance

Collect them for the first cut would be my suggestion. Indeed, you should probably collect them all the time unless the grass is quite dry. I don't take my own advice but mulching the winter growth is a recipe for clogs and a trail of lumps and thick lush clumps.

Yeah, that was sort of my thought process. I was just looking for someone to tell me I can be lazy...

Just call it rewilding instead of lazy and then people are impressed.

- Just cut it and I think it might be time to just embrace the moss (like the Japanese) and try to kill back the grass...

It was bad last Autumn but the piss wet Jan and Feb have made it appallingly bad