12 Best Universal Grass Catcher For Side Discharge in 2023 [+Buying Tips]

Gardening is both a hobby and a chore. As much as some of us love the meditative cleaning and sprucing up the yard using a lawnmower, it’s always better to have something that makes the chore easier. Finding the best universal grass catcher for a side discharge lawnmower can ease up the strain on your back for raking up all the grass clippings. 

In this post, we will share several options for your grass catcher so you won’t have to deal with the long hours of finding the right one.

If you’re wondering if your lawnmower is capable of having its collecting feature, it’s best to learn more about the side-discharge feature of lawnmowers. 

Not all lawnmowers have the side-discharge for class clippings. Old walk-behind mowers have this feature where the clippings are blown on the side without the deflectors.

On the other hand,  the latest models like zero-turn mowers have this feature like the EGO Z6 Zero Turn Mower or the Bad Boy ZT Avenger. 

The blades are placed on the sides of the mower and usually have a side discharge deflector to move the grass clippings in a specific direction.

To make things easier and efficient, gardeners place a deflector connected to a waste collection, called a grass catcher, to pile up all the grass clippings in one place.

With the grass catcher, you no longer have to rake your lawn which saves your time.

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What is a Grass Catcher For Side Discharge?

The grass catcher is often placed at the back of the tractor or mower and connected to the side-discharge chute or deflector. If your mower doesn’t come with a deflector, you may buy them separately. Here are some choices to try:

• MTD Genuine Parts Replacement Side Discharge Chute
• Agri-Fab Adapter 
• Grass Catcher Lawn Mower Universal Fit
• Lawnmowers Parts Genuine MTD Side Discharge Chute

Most lawnmower brands provide side discharge grass catchers that fit the mowers they have but at a much higher price.

So, gardeners find a cheaper match using a universal grass catcher for side discharge that fits any brand of mower. That’s what we will share in this post.

We will provide grass catchers for walk-behind mowers and zero-turn mowers that have side discharge features so you can say goodbye to backaches and long and tedious raking chores.

12 Best Universal Grass Catcher Side Discharge For Mowers [Best Picks]

In this list, we added several grass catchers options so you can choose which one will work best for you.

We’ll share the features and the pros and cons of each grass catcher so you won’t have to deal with long hours of searching and trial and error.

Let’s start!

Universal Grass Catcher Side Discharge For Walk-Behind Lawnmowers

1. MTD Genuine Parts Grass Catcher Kit for 21″ Walk-Behind Mowers

MTD Genuine Parts Grass Catcher Kit is one of the few grass catchers that are compatible with walk-behind lawnmowers that have a flip-up side-discharge chute 1989 and after. It comes with a frame, connectors, and the bag itself. It is compatible with the following models of lawnmowers:

Some gardeners find it smaller than they expected and a bit hard to fit in the mower. However, once it is fixed in the mower, there’s not much problem with its functionality. On the flip side, it is a universal type of grass catcher so you can use it is compatible with several brands.

2. Exmark GC3602 Side Mount Catcher

Another option for walk-behind mowers that spans 36 inches is from the Exmark Side Mount Catcher. It is the complete package that contains a plate, frame, bag, and bolts, to attach to your mowers. Many gardeners like it because it is easy to install and remove as you wish. 

The only concern of gardeners is the bag wears fast when it bumps into trees and other hard obstacles. So some of them place a protective feature like a glue stick or some new protective covering to prolong the life of the bag.

Since it comes in a defined shape and size, it may not be suitable for other brands of walk-behind lawnmowers.

3. Poulan Soft-Sided 3 Bin Grass Bagger

Last but not the least, if you’re done with the soft fabric of leaf bags and their flimsy attachments, you may try the Poulan Soft-Sided 3-Bin Grass Bagger. It may lack the big capacity of leaf bags but it is definitely attached securely to your tractor due to its assembly. It comes with a mounting bracket so you won’t have to deal with a falling off bag mid-cleanup operation. 

This grass catcher comes with a triple bin poly lawn waste bag. It fits lawn mowers and tractors from Poulan Pro and Husqvarna with 54-Inch decks. The only thing is it is not compatible with zero-turn mowers.

What’s good is it comes with everything you need to fix it in your tractor.

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Universal Grass Catcher Side Discharge For Zero-Turn Lawnmowers

1. Rack’em Grass Catcher

If you want to set off your grass-catching experience with a sturdy start, you may begin with the Rack’em Grass Catcher. It is made of an aluminum frame that allows you to collect grass clippings, leaves, and any debris on your lawn.

Unlike other grass catcher brands, Rack’em grass Catcher comes with a faceplate that will connect it to the frame of your zero-turn mower or tractor.

Though it is made of a solid frame and metal, this grass catcher is lightweight and easy to install. It is compatible with lawnmowers with 5 inches of side discharge opening like Exmark.

What’s good about this grass catcher is it has a mesh-like surface that allows the air to flow freely without blowing up the leaves mid-operation. Its maximum load capacity is 4.4 cubic feet and weighs around 23 lbs.

To make sure that you will get the most out of it, your mower must have a discharge chute that extends away from the rear of the mower and is placed higher than 2 inches above the ground.

2. TerraKing Lawn Tractor Leaf Bag 

Moving on to a softer grass catcher, we have bigger versions using the TerraKing Lawn Tractor Leaf Bag.

The best thing about this option is it has an expanded capacity that can load up to 54 cubic feet of grass clipping and leaves. So, instead of taking 2 to 3 trips in dumping leaves, you can do it once which is way more convenient. 

TerraKing Leaf Bag is made of a durable polyester fabric that is lightweight and easy to attach to the hood of your tractor or lawnmower. It comes with dual drawstring clips that will help attach the bag to the hood and unload the leaves for dumping. It is the universal option that is compatible with most ride-on lawn tractors and zero-turn mowers. 

The circumference of the opening is 120 inches allowing you to connect it to both large and medium tractor or lawnmower hoods. The best thing about this leaf bag is it can hold about six times the leaves of the average grass catcher which saves you time and effort. It is ideal for mowers and tractors with front and side chutes.

Most homeowners love the capacity of this leaf bag since it eases the burden of dumping the leaves several times and do it once or twice as they clean the whole yard.

However, it can get heavy when full, so there’s a lifting needed to empty the bag and reuse it for another round of cleanup. So, if you are quite small or injured and can’t do the heavy lifting, you may find this feature a disadvantage.

Though most homeowners believe that polyester fabric is too thin to rip easily, it’s not the problem that they found with this brand. Some of them experienced that the clips were stuck and no longer functional.

Since the clips hold the leaf bag to the hood of the mower, it kind of loses its purpose when the clips get damaged which can frustrate any gardener. One of the best options is to add some additional support to the leaf bag by tying a cord.

3. A+ Lawn Tractor Leaf Bag, Fits All Lawn Tractors

Another universal grass catcher for your mower that can fit 40 bushels of grass and leaves is from A+ Lawn Tractor Leaf Bag. It is a versatile leaf bag that works with most ride-on lawn tractors and zero-turn mowers.

The fabric used for this leaf bag is a durable polyester fabric. The lock mechanism is the dual drawstring clips that will help attach it to the tractor and lawnmower. 

Since it is a versatile leaf catcher, it is easy to attach and does not require any other tools, unlike other grass catchers that require complicated assembly.

However, if you are looking for a leaf bag that comes with the side discharge deflector or chute and all the assembly, this is not the one for you. It’s only a bag that you will attach to the hood at the back of your tractor or mower.

Homeowners like it because it is lightweight and the fabric is durable enough to last several seasons. Dumping the leaves worth the whole yard also got easier for most and it’s affordable for its capacity to ease your garden work.

Like other brands, its clips are the primary problem of users since they get easily broken especially when the bag gets really heavy.

4. JL-BRAND ST95000 Leaf Bag

If you have a lawnmower or tractor with a 2-bag system, this is the best option for you.

JL-Brand Leaf Bag is made of polyester fabric that has a front debris cover so the dust from the exhaust won’t get sprayed over you during your yard cleanup. Since the polyester is lightweight and smooth, dragging it across your lawn won’t be able to tear it apart.

Using this leaf bag helps homeowners save time and takes a while to fill up instead of emptying out small bags and dumping them several times. It is also secured to the hood of your tractor or mower through the two cord locks which are easy to loosen and tighten without using tools.

The size of the leaf bag is 97 inches long and 55 inches wide. So, if you have a 3-bag hooded tractor, this may not be the ideal option for you.

Many homeowners are applauding this brand as it receives a lot of positive reviews. Its lock mechanisms in particular are the game-changer since they have a strong grip and are easy to manipulate. It also works as advertised and does not cause any problem before, during, and after the yard cleanup operation. 

JL Leaf Bag speeds up the cleanup process that allows you to spruce up and clean a half-acre lawn and dump the collected leaves with only three trips. The materials used are definitely the most durable in the market based on the experience of homeowners.

5. BROSYDA Garden Leaf Bag Grass Catcher Bag

If you are not a fan of polyester fabric, BROSYDA offers a 420D reinforced double-sided nylon fabric for collecting grass clippings and leaves from your tractor and mower.

It spans 96 inches long and 56 inches with 54 cubic feet capacity which is equivalent to 54 bushels. It fits dual-bag systems and may be too small for three-bag-hooded mowers and tractors. 

The manufacturer claims that it is reusable, tear-proof, and long-lasting due to its woven fabric. Unlike other brands, it also traps the dust in the bag which is an advantage for those who aim for a seamless clean-up operation. Nylon fabric is also dubbed as more durable than polyester ones due to its thicker composition. 

This Lawn Mower Grass Bag is attached using the upgraded dual drawstring clips that can flexibly adjust the tightness of the cover. The opening has a circumference of 120 inches which makes the leaf bag easy to operate and convenient to fix, and not easy to leak. It is compatible with most ride-on lawn tractors and or zero-turn mowers. 

As a reminder, the manufacturer reminds everyone that this leaf bag does not come with the mower discharge hose. If you don’t have the assembly and side-discharge chute, you may not get the best out of this universal grass catcher for side discharge lawn equipment. It is best compatible with 2-bag mower zero-turn mowers and tractors.

Homeowners love the ease that this leaf bag provides in dumping the leaves. However, it does have some issues with its actual size. The manufacturer claims that the size is 96×60 inches but when measured it’s only 94×55 inches.

Make sure to check its size upon arrival so you can notify the seller and get a replacement otherwise refund for the product.

6. Waysse Lawn Tractor Leaf Bag, Grass Catcher Bag

Waysse Lawn Tractor LeafBag offers a different kind of approach by using a 210D Oxford cloth fabric. It is wear-resistant which is deemed to be abrasion resistant even if you drag the bag around behind your tractor or mower. The manufacturer intentionally made the leaf bag smaller than its competitors to make it easier to lift when dumping the leaves. 

The dimensions of this leaf bag are 79×51 inches and compatible with most riding lawn tractors and zero-turn mowers. Another unique feature is its mesh vent in the middle of the bag to let the airflow and prevent the bag from detaching to the hood or blowing up mid-clean-up operation. 

The manufacturer also provided added features and instructions to make sure it is securely attached to the hood. It has a tape with velcro and a double drawstring design which you will stick on the tractor exhaust hood before tightening the drawstrings at both ends for a more secure assembly.  

Lastly, it has a tail zipper design that opens up at the bottom and eases the dumping process. The zipper can be closed again and locked so you can start collecting grass clippings and leaves again.

There are three ways for you to secure the bag to the  hood which include:

• Velcro on the hood
• Double drawstring
• Zipper lock

This leaf bag is ideal for any two-bag system mower or tractor. The best thing about the zipper and mesh feature is that you no longer need to detach the leaf bag when dumping the leaves. The vent also prevents the dust from getting all over the place. 

Homeowners like this brand because of its added mounting features and ease of dumping the leaves. However, since the mesh part is made of lighter materials, it can get ripped when the bag starts to get heavy. However, the overall experience is easy and makes the yard cleaning a walk in the park.

7. Tqehs Latest Upgrade Leaf Bag for Lawn Tractor with Vent Holes and Bottom Zipper

If you’re looking for a bigger leaf bag than the previous one above, Tqehs offers a bigger bag with a zipper at the bottom.

It also contains vent holes on its sides to make sure the air flows well and prevent the detachment of the bag to the head and blowing up leaves on you. It also uses a durable fabric with the long-lasting 420D reinforced nylon material. 

The zipper of this leaf bag is equipped with a protective layer to make sure that it won’t be damaged when dragging the leaf bag across your lawn. The fabric of the leaf bag is waterproof which makes it more sturdy against different weather conditions. Due to its tail zipper, it is easier to unload the collected leaves in the trash or compost pit without having to lift the whole bag. 

Aside from easing the heavy-lifting, you also no longer need to untie or detach the bag when unloading which saves a lot of time and effort. The zipper feature and bigger load capacity reduce the 4-step process of collecting leaves and grass clippings and dumping the leaves into two steps: collect and dump. 

This leaf bag is about 96 x 56 inches which competes with other brands when it comes to size but stands out more on functionality. The maximum load capacity is 54 cubic feet which is equivalent to 40 bushels. Though the fabric is durable, it’s best to place the bag over a tarp or cart to extend its lifespan and be useful in all seasons in the year. 

Homeowners love its big space to clean the lawn debris, as well all of its detailed features to ensure a fast and easier leaf collection and dumping process. Though it has a tail zipper, it is too short for most gardeners which makes it tedious for them to unload the collected debris.

8. Deloky Reusable Lawn Tractor Leaf Bag

Another big leaf bag that uses a durable fabric like 210D OxfordD is from Deloky. It has a dimension of 92 x 60 inches which can load up to 54 cubic feet of lawn debris. It is a universal grass catcher for side discharge ride-on lawn tractors and zero-turn mowers that fit a wide array of models, such as:

• XT1 LT42
• XT1 LT46
• XT2 LX42
• XT2 LX46

Homeowners love this bag because of its durability and compatibility with various models of lawn equipment. Due to its size, you will have fewer trips to dump the collected leaves.

Therefore, you are saving so much effort and time in doing your usual garden work. The wide opening is easy to attach to the hood and does not tear easily unlike other types of fabrics. 

The concern of other homeowners is the lack of vents on the bag which causes instances of leaves blowing out from the bag and breaking the clips. You may add a few vents yourself, however, you may risk ripping the bag altogether.

9. CHANGEMOORE Anti-Tear Lawn Tractor Leaf Bag

CHANGEMOORE brings in a new contender in the market with its leaf bag using a durable build made of 900D fabric with reinforced seams. The fabric used can withstand load-bearing pressure even if it is dragged over gravel and dirt patches. It can load up to 54 cubic feet of lawn debris so you can have a fewer trip in dumping the collected leaves and grass clippings. 

Another feature that makes it stand out is its side zipper and mesh in the lower part of the bag for proper ventilation. The side zipper eases the chore of lifting the heavy bag of leaves and the easy dumping process. On the other hand, the mesh encourages the proper flow of air to make sure that the leaf bag won’t blow out of proportion. 

Another advantage of having a zipper and mesh in a leaf bag is you no longer need to frequently remove the leaf bag from the hood. You simply need to unzip and unload then you’re up for another cleanup round in our yard. The bag is also equipped with a front flap to filter out the dust and protect you from dusty air from the exhaust. 

Aside from those features, the manufacturer also added two buckle straps on the leaf bag so you can secure the bag to your tractor or mower.

With a heavily secured attachment or mount, there will also be fewer chances for you to stop mid-cleanup to fix the bag. This universal grass catcher for side discharge mowers and tractors probably got all the most enhanced features among its competitors in the market.

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5 Tips in Looking For a Universal Grass Catcher For Side Discharge Lawnmower

To get the best from the grass catcher that you’re about to purchase for your lawnmower or tractor, here are the factors that you should look for:

1. Fitting/Compatibility: No matter how efficient and durable the product is, if it is not compatible with your unit, you won’t be able to use the grass catcher. So, make sure to check the assembly or the mounting bracket needed for the one you wish to buy. 
2. Airflow: Side discharge utilizes the proper airflow to pile up the clippings in the grass catcher. If the airflow is constricted, it will find another way out and it is usually at the weakest part of the grass catcher. Without proper vents, the leaf bag has a higher risk of blowing up. 
3. Capacity: The capacity of the grass catcher will determine how many trips you need to do to dump the collected lawn debris. If you want to dump a lot of leaves in one go, you must have a leaf bag with a bigger capacity. 
4. Material: The type of material is usually the one that makes or breaks the product. Choose a grass catcher with a more durable material that you think will last for several seasons. 
5. Placement of features: Sometimes, in an attempt to stand out among their competitors, manufacturers try to be stylish in the placement of the mesh or zippers. The change in the placement of features may affect the overall functionality of the grass catcher which can make it more efficient or make it harder for you. 

Final Thoughts

We hope that this post has helped you find the best universal grass catcher for side discharge mowers and tractors.

Though raking your lawn is a good workout, your time is much more valuable since you can’t take it back. With the use of some new attachments to your lawn equipment, you can maintain the lawn and do more tasks for the whole day without depleted energy from the gardening tasks. 

Out of our list of top grass catchers the most outstanding ones when it comes to features and functionality are the following:

• Waysse Lawn Tractor Leaf Bag, Grass Catcher Bag
• JL-BRAND ST95000 Leaf Bag
• CHANGEMOORE Anti-Tear Lawn Tractor Leaf Bag

We hope that this post helped you find the best grass catcher for you. Your comfort and convenience are the reasons why we made this list since we know how tedious it is to rake acres of lawn. 

Let us know in the comments which leaf bag or grass catcher has saved your day in the yard.

If you find this post helpful, please don’t forget to share this post with your friends. Lastly, we hope that you will enjoy gardening going forward as much as we do!