If you have a lawn, then you’ll naturally want it to look it’s best- and for that, you’ll need the best lawnmower.
But just what makes a lawnmower better than all the other options out there? In this article, we’ll talk you through how to choose the right mower based on your needs, to ensure that you make the right choice.
The first thing you’ll need to do when choosing a lawnmower is get down on your hands and knees and measure the length of your grass, as well as identifying what type of grass it is. Lawnmowers usually tell you on the box what grass heights they are most suited for, so having this measurement to hand will be extremely useful.
Another thing which affects how well your lawnmower can cut your grass is the type of blade it uses, and its cutting style. Your main choices here are reel and rotary mowers- be sure to look carefully at what each one has to offer. Bear in mind that you will need to keep your lawnmower blades properly maintained, which can cause additional unseen costs in the long run.
You should also be aware that different mowers use different power sources. For the most part, rotary mowers are petrol or electric powered, whereas reel mowers are either electric or operated by hand. Electric mowers can take a while to recharge, so you might want to invest in a second battery if your mower doesn’t come with one as standard. If noise is going to be an issue for you, then you should probably avoid petrol powered mowers.
Lawnmowers also come with differently sized cutting decks. The larger your cutting deck, the less times you will have to walk up and down the lawn while you mow it, so they can save you plenty of time. As you might expect, there is plenty of choice when it comes to this feature, as everyone’s garden is different, but in general, a smaller lawn means a smaller cutting deck.
For shorter grass:
If your garden is mostly short or medium grass, then a reel or cylinder lawnmower will be the best choice for you. That’s because these models are designed especially for frequent mowing, so you’ll have no problem keeping your lawn looking clean and tidy. Reel motors typically include between five and twelve blades, which work like scissors to trim back the grass. They are excellent at cutting, and also include rollers at the front and back to give your lawn that professional look.
When it comes to blades, you’ll want to opt for regular blades. As well as giving the grass an even finish, they also collect the grass clippings, which are usually deposited into a bag for easy disposal.
The advantages
- Quiet running
- No need to keep refilling the petrol tank
- Environmentally friendly
- Low maintenance
The drawbacks
- Decreased performance on slopes
- Doesn’t deal well with weeds
- Only suitable for use on even, healthy grass
In this category, the mowers that we most strongly recommend are the Fiskar’s Staysharp Max Reel Mower, and the Great States 415-16 16 inch Standard Full Feature Reel Mower
For longer grass:
For taller grass, rotary mowers are a better bet. They’re also great for irregularly shaped lawns, and mixed grass types. More powerful than other models because they are specially designed for longer grass, the blades chop vertically to make light work of mowing. They also convert the cut grass into mulch, which helps your lawn to grow and achieve a healthy green look.
3-in-1, or mulching blades, are a good time-saver because they produce and spread mulch while they mow, to keep your garden fertilized. Rotary mowers often include a bag, like a vacuum cleaner, in which the trimmings are stored, keeping things clean and making it easy for you to dispose of them.
The advantages
- Provides excellent performance
- Allows you to adjust the cutting height
- Works well on a variety of lawn types and sizes
- Excellent efficiency
The drawbacks
- Restricted motion when mowing- only back and forth
- Requires you to pass over the lawn multiple times to deal with uneven grass
- Doesn’t offer much choice when it comes to lawn finish styles
- Can be difficult to reach some areas
If your lawn is this grass type, then we would highly recommend that you invest either the GreenWorks 25302 Twin Force G-MAX 40V Li-Ion 20-Inch Cordless Lawn Mower, or the Sun Joe MJ401E Mow Joe 14-Inch 12 Amp Electric Lawn Mower
