Abstract: An improved mulching lawn mower has separate cutting and discharge chambers integral to the mower housing. An air flow initiated by cutting blade fan action positions uncut blades of grass ahead of the blade into a horizontal position where vertical cutting surfaces on the blade successively cut the blade into small clippings. The mower's air flow is directed vertically downward into the lawn at a front edge of the discharge chamber through a prepared opening, depositing the clippings into the lawn near the soil. Only one-half of the cut width of grass is cut in the cutting chamber and any suspended clippings from the cutting chamber are purged on each cycle. These measures limit the clipping density in the cutting chamber to an acceptable level.