Choosing a new lawn mower can be quite a difficult and time consuming process as there are so many different lawn mowers on the market today. Should you choose a petrol or electric mower? If it’s electric should it be mains or battery powered. What kind of finish do you want? How quickly do you want to cut the lawn? Is your lawn even or bumpy? What shape is your lawn? There are so many questions to ask yourself before you make an investment in a new mower. In this article we attempt to answer some of those questions for you.
How much lawn do I have/How quickly do I want to cut the lawn?
Hover mowers will generally cut a lawn more quickly than either a cylinder or rotary mower, but the real deciding factor is the width of cut. The standard width for a small lawn is 12 or 14 inches, for an average sized lawn is 16 or 18″ inches and for larger than average lawn areas we would advise a 21″ inch cutting width. For lawns or other grassy areas larger than 1500 sq metres then a lawn rider/ garden tractor should be considered.
If you want the mowing to take 30 minutes –
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Is the turf bumpy or rough?
If you have bumpy, uneven grass to cut then choose a rotary or hover mower. Do not consider a cylinder mower as scalping will occur.
Do I want the best possible finish?
If you have a nice flat lawn, then a petrol or electric cylinder lawn mower will give you the cleanest and the closest cut – a grass box will collect the clippings. A back roller is essential if you want the desired striping effect. Read more about the benefits, advantages & disadvantages of owning a cylinder lawn mower here
Is safety a prime consideration?
Cylinder mowers are basically safer than hover or rotary models, but all mowers can be dangerous if handled incorrectly.
What shape is the lawn?
If the lawn is square or rectangular, choose the largest mower you can afford, store and handle – it will save you time and make the job easier. But if there are flower beds, narrow verges and awkward corners, ease of handling is more important than size.
Is a power point available and is every part of the lawn within 200ft of it?
If the answer is ‘no’, then choose a petrol rotary lawn mower or cylinder mower or a good cordless electric mower
Do I need a self-propelled mower?
Most lawn mowers use the power source (mains or battery electric, petrol engine) to drive the blades, but you have to push the engine across the lawn.. Little effort is required with a hover mower, but with other models this can be a tiring process if the area is large or the ground uneven and/or sloping. If this is the case then consider a mower where the power source (engine, mains, battery) not only drives the blades but also powers the machine.
We hope this article has been somewhat helpful in deciding your next mower purchase. If you would like any further advice on which lawnmower would suit your specific needs then please call us on 01263 820202. Our team will give you expert, unbiased advice.
