Lawn Mowers Buyer’s Guide

You don’t need to be a great artist to get at the perfect lawn. You just need the perfect lawn mower.

Lawn mowers have been trimming grass since 1827. The humble mowing machine has come a long way since the days of Edward Beard Budding who invented the first mechanical mowing machine. The market is flush with different models of mowing machines that run using gasoline as well as electricity. For the tech savvy, the robotic lawn mowers have arrived. 

But how does one arrive at the perfect mowing machine that makes the lawn, a work of art?

Size of your lawn is key

The amount or area of lawn that needs to be trimmed regularly is of key importance while deciding upon buying a lawn mower. Commercial lawn mowers that are used to mow areas that include golf courses come with specifications that suit bigger requirements. For smaller sized lawns, mowers come with specifications that suit domestic requirements.

To begin with, lawn mowers use different types of mechanisms to cut grass.

ROTARY MOWERS:

Powered with the help of two stroke or four stroke engines, rotary mowers are an obvious choice due to their usability and versatility characteristics. Newer models of the rotary mower use an electric start instead of the old pull crank to come to life and also have preset throttle speeds that decrease the risk of haphazard or uneven trimming. Electrically powered mowers, a popular option, can limit the range of mowing and also pose the risk of electrocution.

Rotary mowers come with and without grass catchers. Models with facilities for mulching are a popular choice because of the ease in disposal of the cut grass. Mulching is also an organic method to re-vitalize your lawn.

The Rotary mower’s deck is made of light steel, aluminium and high density plastic. The price of the mower usually decides the material of the deck. 

HOVER MOWER:

The hover mower works in resemblance to a hover craft by floating above the lawn [using rotary push mowers] as it cuts grass. This user friendly mower can cut strong or hard grass as well as light scrub, due to their floating capabilities. The user can float the mower over the grass and sink them to the ground to cut even, long and thick grass. Hover mowers are usually built using high density plastic and can go to the nooks and corners of a lawn to give it an even look.

ROBOTIC MOWERS:

Define the area to be mowed using a wire, Programme the robotic mower. Go take a nap or watch TV.

This new age mower asks the human to step aside and does almost all of the mowing work by itself. It uses the wire border to locate recharging docs and recharges itself. The robotic mower can mow up to five acres and also has a built in mulching mechanism. They also come with different kinds of sensors that can identify grass characteristics and weather conditions.

Well, now since you know what kinds of mowers are available, how do you choose the one for your lawn?
 

• Decide whether your cut grass needs to be mulched or not. Choose a mower with a good capacity to hold grass if you have a big lawn. An average capacity of 50 to 70 litres is a common size for grass holding equipment.
• Let the terrain choose the mower. A lawn which has a hilly terrain would be best trimmed using a self propelled mower. If you find navigation across your lawn a bit strenuous, go in for the high wheel mower.
• A rear bagger mower would guarantee a debris free immaculate lawn and makes your work a lot easier since you do not have to clean up after mowing.
• Electrically powered mowers work with minimal sound and extended efficiency. Choose between corded and cordless mowers that come with multiple options Rechargeable battery powered mowers have a limited area of operation. Power consumption will depend on the type of terrain and the quality of grass that needs to be cut.
• Bigger areas need more power on the batteries. More power is synonymous with heavier batteries that increase the overall weight of your mower.
• Push mowers are a good choice for those of you who want to sweat it out by mowing your lawn. Trimming the grass using a push mower is one good way for you to stay in shape.Dont go for it if your lawn is bigger than 15,000 sq ft or if your terrain is uneven and hilly.
• Be sure of the material of which the blades are made. Agile material built blades cut better and last longer. Four bladed mowers can cut through the thickest of grass with ease and efficiency.
• Mowers with smartly built handles can make mowing an easy experience. Foldable handles also help in storing your mower in a compact manner.
• A wider cutting area ensures quicker mowing.

If you are an environmentalist and care to minimize air pollution electric mowers are a good choice, since they do not pollute the environment like the petrol powered mowers. The two stroke mower demands a mix of oil and petrol whereas the four stroke mower can be fired up by using petrol alone.

Liquid fuel powered mowers have a slightly bigger cutting area when compared to electric mowers. On the flip side, fuel powered mowers are noisy and need regular maintenance.

Keeping your lawn in good shape is all about the smart choices that you make. Maintaining your lawn can be fun if you choose the right mower.