A multi-blade lawnmower includes a cutting deck with generally adjacent cutting chambers. The cutting chambers each include a cutting blade. The cutting chambers have at least one of the following: (a) a side discharge opening and (b) a rear discharge opening. Each side discharge opening either communicates with the next cutting chamber or, as in the case of the last cutting chamber, discharges grass from side of the cutting deck. When a side discharge opening is present, a side discharge baffle plate is available for either blocking the side discharge opening or being stored in a non-blocking inactive position inside the cutting deck. When a rear discharge opening is present, a rear discharge baffle plate is available for either blocking the rear discharge opening or being stored within the cutting deck in non-blocking inactive position inside the cutting chamber.
