How Large a Lawn Can You Cut With a Self-propelled Mower
Lawnmower buying guide: How to choose the best lawn mower
A lush, leafy light-green lawn is what many gardeners dream of having. And for that, you lot need a good lawnmower.
In fact, the lawn is often the largest area of the garden. So having a high-quality lawnmower that suits your grass and garden size is vital. In fact, I think information technology'south the most important gardening tool you can own.
Only shopping for a lawnmower tin can feel overwhelming. In that location are so many different types and the jargon is confusing. Oftentimes the models go more than expensive, but the added extras are difficult to identify.
So I've put together a lawnmower buying guide. It is completely independent and objective. I am not reviewing or recommending specific models or brands, or trying to sell you anything.
The ownership guide simply aims to explain the different features and show which type of lawnmower is best for different garden sizes, styles and power requirements.
Lawn mower types
Cylinder
Cylinder lawn mowers have cylindrical blades that rotate vertically at the forepart of the mower. They cut against a fixed blade at the bottom. The cylinder should take multiple blades – 3 or more than is best.
Cylinder lawnmowers are best for flat lawns that you want to continue brusque and well-manicured. They tin be electric, petrol-powered and push mowers.
Rotary
Rotary lawnmowers have a single blade that rotates horizontally underneath the mower, like the propellers of a plane.
Rotary lawn mowers are the most versatile type and volition cope with most types of grass. They are better than cylinder mowers at cutting longer and rougher grass.
A rotary mower may be powered by mains electrical, rechargeable battery or petrol engine.
Hover
Hover lawnmowers hover above the basis, making them easier to push and skilful at mowing uneven surfaces. They are a good pick for unusual-shaped lawns and cheaper than other types.
Yet, hover lawnmowers are not always suitable for larger gardens. They are usually electric powered and have rotary blades.
Lawnmower ability options
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Electric lawnmowers
Most lawnmowers are powered by mains electricity. This is the best option for small and medium-sized gardens. The mowers are smaller, cheaper to purchase and easy to shop.
Bank check that the cable will allow you to mow to the finish of your garden before you lot purchase.
You should look to pay £100 to £200 for an electric mower. Hover lawnmowers are cheaper, starting at effectually £50.
Cordless lawnmowers
Cordless bombardment-powered lawn mowers are a hassle-free garden mower. They take all the benefits of an electric mower but you don't need to worry about a cable.
Yet, they can be more expensive than mains electric models because of the battery. Modern lithium ion batteries are lighter and last much longer than traditional nickel-cadmium versions, but they are more costly.
You should look to pay £300 to £500 for a cordless lawnmower.
Petrol lawnmowers
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Petrol-powered backyard mowers are the best pick for large gardens where a mains cable would be unsuitable. They are bit more expensive but much more powerful and faster at cutting. They are as well easier to manoeuvre effectually large objects.
However, bear in mind that petrol lawnmowers will need servicing like auto engines, and you will need to cheque and top-up the oil.
You lot should wait to pay £150 to £500 for a petrol lawnmower, depending on your ability requirements.
Push button lawnmowers
These are generally small cylinder lawnmowers that y'all simply push along with your musculus ability. They are all-time for pocket-sized gardens and don't utilise electricity or produce noise and emissions.
Withal, push lawnmowers are not suitable for larger or sloping gardens or people who have difficulty pushing.
You should expect to pay £forty to £100 for a push lawnmower.
Lawn mowers for different garden sizes
Remember of your lawn equally a tennis court. A full-size court would be a medium lawn, half the courtroom or less would be a small-scale lawn. Anything bigger is a large lawn.
Here's the mower maths:
- Minor lawn (upward to 100 sq g): electric and cordless lawn mowers.
- Medium lawn (100 – 250 sq chiliad): electric, cordless and petrol lawn mowers.
- Large lawn (250+ sq thou): petrol lawn mowers.
Other lawnmower factors to consider
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Self-propelled
Some electrical and petrol lawnmowers are self-propelled. This means that you don't demand to push them – simply steer them in the right direction!
It makes mowing much easier, especially with big lawns and heavy machines. Some models come with adjustable speeds, and then you tin set it to a comfy walking pace.
Grass box
Information technology is by and large advised to collect grass clippings rather than leaving them on the lawn. Well-nigh lawnmowers collect the clippings in a box at the back. This is better than mowers that go out you to rake them up afterwards!
If y'all have a medium or large lawn, look for a high-chapters grass box. This will cut downwardly how often you need to stop mowing and empty the box.
Mulch mowers
You tin can as well become backyard mowers that chop upward the grass clippings very finely and push them back into the lawn as mulch. These are sometimes called recycling mowers. The mulch adds nutrients back into the lawn.
The fine shredding helps the clippings interruption downwardly quickly so they don't smother the rest of the grass. Mulching mowers are expensive only a good pick if y'all don't accept anywhere to dispose of grass clippings.
Cutting width
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A backyard mower'southward cutting width refers to how broad a stripe the lawnmower tin cut. A larger cutting width will reduce how much fourth dimension you spend mowing the lawn.
Hither's a handy guide using the lawn sizes from above.
- Pocket-sized lawn: 300mm cut width.
- Medium lawn: 350-400mm cutting width.
- Big backyard: 400mm+ cutting width.
Cutting height
Cutting height refers to how high the grass will be when you have cutting it. Most lawnmowers have adjustable cutting heights – yous merely move the blades upwards or downward.
This helps you dictate the height of the grass, and go out information technology longer in autumn or during dry periods. Cutting top ranges are unremarkably 20mm to 60mm – see my section on proper mowing technique below for communication.
Rear roller
If you want the striped lawn terminate you see on football game pitches, you demand a lawnmower with a rear roller. The heavier the mower and its roller, the longer your stripes volition concluding.
Rear rollers also allow you to mow right up to the edge of the backyard.
Mowing edges
If you lot have lots of lawn edges, information technology is worth looking for a model that tin cut right up to the border. Generally cylinder blades or versions with rear rollers are better at this.
Any mower with inset forepart wheels or a grass collection rummage is also slap-up for mowing edges – no need to go back round with a strimmer.
Robot lawn mowers
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Robot lawn mowers are condign more commonplace these days. The technology is getting better all the time and they can now recognise obstacles and lawn edges. And they are a lot more affordable, though still not cheap.
Robot lawnmowers are for you if you lot actually, actually hate mowing the lawn. There is some set-up involved every bit you lot have to lay a perimeter wire. Then just leave the mower to become on with cut. Some models even 'self-park' into a charging station after mowing.
Proper mowing technique
Now you have the best lawnmower, yous need to get your mowing technique sorted too. A dandy-looking lawn needs a regular mowing government that encourages the grasses to develop fine leaves. It also keeps the growth lush and dense, and stops weeds and moss spreading.
The unmarried biggest mistake well-nigh people brand when cutting the lawn is to cutting too low. This is known as 'scalping' the grass, and can seriously weaken it.
For normal lawns that get article of clothing and human foot traffic, continue the grass effectually 5cm loftier. For ornamental lawns that don't go used much, you tin can go as low as 2.5cm.
Always remove leaves and grass clippings after mowing and feed the backyard in bound and autumn with special lawn fertiliser. Make certain you choose the right one – spring feeds encourage leafy growth and autumn mixtures build stronger roots.
More lawn tips
How to revitalise your lawn and get greener grass
Top 8 lawn care tips for spring
How to care for your lawn in autumn and wintertime
How to salve time on garden upkeep
14 Comments
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Cheers for great sharing. A great lawnmover will make a great garden.What a tidy garden!
This was such an interesting read, am helping a friend do some gardening and will exist renting an electric lawnmower from Fat Lama. Great tips on avoiding scalping the grass, will definitely make sure we carry that in mind!
I am a little lazy and I don't generally clean my mower. And then, I liked that you pointed out that can make a huge problem after with the mower. I wonder if riding mowers will be easier to clean than a button one.
Regardless of what you determine, you should definitely go for a lawn mower that's self propelled. That'due south a must! I guess you don't want to buy a motorcar that will get things even harder and difficult to cease.
I like that y'all mention that virtually lawnmowers have adjustable cut heights, so it opens upward your options when looking for one. I just moved to a new home and the yard is a lot bigger than the one at my onetime home. I'll have to go a new lawnmower that is better equipped to handle the size of my lawn.
In that location really is a lot to consider when buying a lawn mower, but I particularly similar that the article brings up cutting height and width. After all, if you're planning to cut grass for a commercial property so they might have specific guidelines that you take to follow. In guild to brand sure that this happens you need to make certain that the mower you've bought can really be adjusted to those specifications.
Thank you for the post on how to choose the right lawnmower. I definitely like the thought of having a bombardment powered mower that yous can charge and use. You lot could save on gas that way but you lot want to exist sure whichever y'all get tin can handle the grass in your yard.
My husband and I have been having problem mowing with our electric current equipment, and we're looking for a new mower. Your article had some bully tips for choosing a lawn mower, and I really liked how you said to consider a cordless mower, as this functions like an electrical without the cord. Cheers for the helpful post; this volition be useful when choosing a lawn mower for our needs.
Robotic mower is very utilize and amazing but is quite costly Thank yous for the post.
I take both: a reel mower and a self-propelled. I can use them in unlike areas of our lawn. I love the reel mower, then many memories follow me every bit I use it having grown up with them and helping my Dad mow with them (back when they were fabricated with more woods than metallic). Thanks for the article!
Query on rotary mowers.
Which is better – a long single blade or two/four shorter multi blades fixed to a rotating plate?
Hi Richard, a single bract will give you a cleaner cut equally there is adventure with 4 blades i blade could exist off slightly and you miss bits.
This is 1 of the best articles I take seen in a long time! Give thanks yous for sharing~