I used to use a bagging blade for mulching. Obviously, it doesn't work
that well for mulching -- the grass clippings are just too long.

Recently, I replace the bagging blade with a mulching blade. But the
grass clippings are still too long. Moreover, they stick together and
leave long tracks of grass clippings that go in the same direction as
the mowing. I am wondering what I should do to improve the situation:

- Is this OK to leave the grass clippings on the lawn despite the
fact that this doesn't look that good? I am wondering if the grass
clippings may smear down on the grass and damage the grass.

- I notice that the cutting edge of the mulching blade is just as
short as the cutting edge of the bagging blade (around 3 inches). I am
under the impression that a mulching blade is supposed to have a
longer cutting edge. The only difference between the bagging blade and
the mulching blade is that the mulching blade as a hump between the
cutting edge and the center of the blade. Am I getting the wrong
blade? By the way my lawn mower is from John Deere, and the mulching
blade is the one recommended by the manufacturer for mulching. I am
not saying there is anything wrong with the mulching blade. I am just
trying to see if there is anyone know anything about this type of
mulching blade.

- This is late spring / early summer here. Grass is growing fast. I
mow my lawn every week. Do I mow not often enough? I hope not because
I don't have time to mow more than once a week. If this is the case, I
will have to bag the grass clipping in this time of the year (I will
put the grass clippings into my compost piles), and I will continue
mulching in summer and fall.

- The weather is kind of wet around here in this time of the year.
Although I have waited for a dry day to mow the lawn, the grass
clippings are still kind of wet. Does the fact that the grass is kind
of wet prevents the mulching blade from doing its job? Does the fact
that the grass is kind of wet prevents the grass clippings from
dropping onto the soil instead of laying on top of the grass? If this
is the case, I may have to bag the grass clippings instead of leaving
them on the lawn when the grass is wet.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Jay Chan