What is a mulch plug on a lawnmower?

A mulch plug is used to block the chute to the grass bag on a lawnmower, converting it into a mulching mower. Please note, not all mowers can be converted to mulching.

By blocking the grass bag chute with a mulch plug, the grass clippings are kept in the cutting deck and are repeatedly cut into smaller pieces by a mulching blade. The smaller grass cuttings then fall back into the lawn and act as natural fertiliser, improving the health of your lawn.

Some lawnmowers can be converted into a mulching mower with a mulching kit, which includes a mulch plug and a mulching blade.

In general, there are three options of what to do with your grass cuttings:

• collect the cuttings in a grass bag
• side-discharge or rear discharge the cuttings
• mulch the clippings back into the lawn

If you plan to mulch your cuttings rather than collecting or discharging them, it's important you regularly cut your lawn to ensure the grass doesn't grow too long between cuts. The mower may struggle to effectively cut and recycle longer grass cuttings. In the peak growing season you should be cutting at least once a week, and ideally every 3-4 days to allow for the best mulching performance.