Side or rear discharge? Choosing the right mower discharge deck for you

Posted on:Sep 22, 2023

If you’re in the market for a riding mower, you have options—and some important decisions to make. Mid-mount or front-mount? Side discharge or rear discharge? Collection system, mulching kit, both or neither? 

When we talk with you about what you need from your next mower, we ask a few important questions about your property, desired results, mowing habits (frequency) and preferences, so we can steer you down the right path to a product that will meet your expectations. 

First, we’ll tackle the questions. Then, we will walk through the difference between side-discharge and rear-discharge decks, including how each configuration works and the benefits you’ll gain regardless of which you choose. 

What to Consider—Mowing Priorities 

What type of property do you plan on mowing? This is a driving factor in the mower deck design you should select. For example, landscape contractors mowing large swaths of grass on highway medians have different goals than the homeowner caring for an irrigated lawn that includes landscape beds to maneuver around. Commercial landscapers maintaining HOAs or retail properties are held to clients’ standards. They must deliver quality to justify the cost of services, meaning no clippings left behind or clumps of grass sitting on the lawn. 

How often do you mow the lawn? During the peak growing season, turf seems to inch up overnight and often requires mowing every five days, or three times every two weeks. Do you like to keep up with a fast-growing lawn, willing to mow whenever needed so the grass doesn’t get too long? Or do you prefer a less-is-more approach and commit to mowing weekly, but no more than that? 

What mowing obstacles do you manage? Consider driveways, walkways, fence lines, landscape beds, outdoor living spaces, play areas and any other mow-around obstacle. For example, cemeteries must maintain neat grounds while keeping clippings off headstones and monuments, while maneuvering along walkways. Are you mowing a rural space with lots of land—the main obstacle being the time required to complete the job? What is the topography? Do you irrigate the lawn? All these factors determine whether a rear-discharge or side-discharge deck is best for you. 

What are your mowing priorities? You have a need for speed. Is your goal to mow the lawn as fast as possible? Or, is a manicured finish most important? Do you prefer to collect grass clippings, or would you rather cut the grass more often and leave them on the lawn? Are you covering lots of ground? Does your property require a specific mowing pattern to move around and along obstacles? Ultimately, what do you want to get out of your mower, the cut and experience caring for your property? 

Is a Side-Discharge or Rear-Discharge Deck Best?

Comparing side-discharge and rear-discharge decks is like comparing apples to oranges. While the majority of the parts are the same, there are some defining differences. These mower discharge configurations are designed for different types of jobs and mowing “personalities,” so to speak. Let’s break down the benefits of both discharge configurations here. Both are available in front-mount or mid-mount styles. 

Side-Discharge Decks

First, the technical details. Side-discharge mower decks include three cutting blades that push clippings out the opening of the deck, typically on the right side. Grass is cut multiple times while rotating in the deck before it exits. With side-discharge mowers, you can add implements like a PowerVac™ Collection System or a mulching package. This way, you can choose whether or not to allow clippings to disperse on the lawn. 

Because of the way side-discharge decks move material, they require more horsepower to operate than rear discharge. Arguably, your mower works a bit harder than it otherwise would with a rear-discharge deck. Here are a couple of other points to consider, too:

• The discharge is always on the right side, which means you must mind the mowing pattern, otherwise walkways, driveways and landscaped areas could require blowing off clippings. However, one convenient feature is a side-discharge restrictor kit that allows you to briefly close the opening while mowing to prevent dispensing clippings onto a patio, for example. 
• Because of the triple-blade, high-horsepower action before clippings are dispersed out the side discharge, the result is a fine cut that does not leave behind large clumps. Generally, you can get away with mowing a taller lawn without collecting clippings. 

Rear-Discharge Decks

The goal of a rear-discharge deck is to cut the grass once and get it out of the way – out the back of the deck – as quickly as possible. Dedicated rear-discharge decks are designed for this purpose, which allows these decks to mow through taller, thicker grass without the risk of “bogging down” or clumping. The trade off is that longer clippings will be more noticeable behind the mower. 

On a front-mount rear discharge, blades in the deck counter-rotate, pushing material backward. The same action occurs on a mid-mount with rear discharge, except there is an additional spreader blade on the back of the mower that helps lay down clippings in a uniform pattern effectively eliminating clumping and windrowing. Other points of consideration when looking at a rear-discharge deck:

• Rear-discharge decks cannot be outfitted with a PowerVac™ Collection System or mulching kit. They will always disperse clippings out of the back of the machine. Generally speaking, this means mowing more often, or at a taller cutting height, will be necessary to avoid leaving behind a heavier layer of clippings. 
• Less horsepower is required to operate rear-discharge decks, so this appeals to operators who have a lot of lawn to mow. The mid-mount, rear-discharge design is ideal for roadside maintenance, medians, cemeteries and schools whereas both mid-mount and front-mount designs are suitable for rural properties where your neighbors' concern for the appearance of your lawn is less likely to be an issue.
• Rear-discharge decks allow you to mow in any direction at any time. In areas requiring mowing in a circle with a side discharge, you can get the job done more efficiently with a rear discharge without the extra work of blowing clippings out of beds or off walkways. 

Side or Rear Discharge? We’ve Got You Covered 

Sometimes, there is no right answer. Side- and rear-discharge mowers are specially designed to manage different types of mowing tasks. Both deliver a high quality of cut, comfort and are engineered to withstand rugged environments. 

When you work with a Grasshopper servicing dealer, experienced staff can walk you through choosing the best mower for you: side or rear discharge. Based on your needs, we may suggest options such as collection systems and/or mulching packages to make your mowing life easier. 

Interested in more mowing tips from the pros at Grasshopper? Check out our library of how-to videos, or sign up for our newsletter. Thinking about a new mower? Our team can help you choose the best model for your needs.