Lawns - Large amount of clippings ? mulching doesnt work ?

Have a fairly large front yard. I mowed yesterday with the deck level set about half way (#2 setting) and the grass wasn't really high, but got lots of clippings. Piles and piles of it. Its very thick Bermuda. I tried using the mulching plug, but there was still grass clippings everywhere.

Since Im new to using a mulching lawn mower, and I really don't want to get out the rake every time i mow the front, I thought I would ask here. What are my options?

Do I need to keep the deck level higher than average when mulching?

For the John Deere LA105 model I have, I see they offer a bagger, link here
(http://www.deere.com/en_US/ProductCatalog/HO/servlet/Attachment?attNmbr=BG20015&prodNmbr=SKG20446&tM=HO)

However, Id rather not bag at all. I dont want to leave the clippings on the lawn, because it will kill the grass underneath wont it? I dont want to rake it either. I want it to automatically turn into fertilizer and go back into the soil. That was the whole idea behind mulching.

Maybe I just need to swap out the factory blades with some mulching blades, and set the deck higher?

You need to mow more often:eek::wall:
cutting less grass will allow the mulching aspect of the mower work better.

When you run into too many clippings, a temporary solution is to wait a day and mow again after they have dried some.

You many have either fertilized too much or did not often enough.

We frequently see that here when the June grass growth warrants twice a week mowing, but frequently a mowing the next day chops up the slightly dried clippings to speed the decomposition. - Our grass grows very thick and luxurious at certain temperatures and humidity.

mow more often , cut back on irrigation and fertilizer, or you'll have to double mow or bag. we've had a lot of rain and the grass is going nuts this year.

With the heat of summer coming on, you should cut it at the highest setting you can. It will look funky for the first cut or so, but with longer shaft grasses, the roots are shaded more from the sun and will survive moderate drought better. I cut about 4 acres or so with a finish mower set as high as it will go, and only lime in the winter....no fertilizer (except for the chickens running all over), and the lawn looks thick and I don't have brown outs in the heat.