We can objectively, impartially, professionally and in detail present to you the types of lawn mowers that are available on the market. We will also focus on their main characteristics and the right choice of model according to individual requirements and needs.
Main characteristics of lawn mowers
- Mowing width - This is a very important feature because it determines how much time you will lose mowing your yard. The smallest non-professional lawn mowers available on the market have a cutting width of 32 cm, and the largest - 46 cm. This makes 44% wider, or almost half the mowed area for the same time. If you mow once a month, this feature does not matter much. Considering that in the summer the grass is mowed on average twice a week, you cumulatively save a lot of time. If your yard is large, then the savings become huge and make the purchase of the largest mower mandatory.
- Power - Power in electric and petrol mowers is measured differently, so we will pay more attention to this feature below. Here it is important to mention that the more powerful the mower, the faster it can mow the grass under it and move forward. This makes it more efficient and allows you to mow a larger area per unit time.
- Presence of a basket - Mowed grass should not remain on the lawn after mowing. The lawns beneath it are drying up. The other special point is that with each mowing the shredded grass penetrates between the plants and rots there. Over time, it accumulates and compacts, and interferes with soil aeration. All this requires immediate removal of the rotten grass with an aerator paddle. Although not a very complicated activity, it is a difficult and time-consuming job that we offer you to save. For this reason, we recommend that you purchase a lawn mower with a basket. The fact is that you have to stop the mower every few minutes to throw out the cut grass, but we guarantee that this activity is much easier and more enjoyable than aerating with a paddle. The bigger the bin, the less often you have to throw it away. As standard, the mowers are sold with a basket that varies between 25 liters and 70 liters.
- Propulsion - self-propelled and non-self-propelled - If you have a small yard - 100-200 m2 probably this feature does not matter. However, if your yard is 400-500 m2, then this feature matters. This means that when you activate the mower, the front wheels also move and it moves itself on the grass. You just follow it and point it in the desired direction. The mower without drive, even activated, stands and mows in one place. You have to push and steer it in the desired direction. Electric mowers do not have a self-propelled function, unlike gasoline models, which can be with or without a self-propelled function.
- Mowing height - Electric ones mow on average between 20 and 60 mm from the ground, while petrol ones can be lifted more and mow from 20 to 90 mm from the ground.
Types
- Hand mower - no engine in it. When you push it, the wheels drive a drum with knives, which, when passed by a stationary knife, cut the grass like scissors. Used for very small areas. Some manufacturers call them mechanical mowers.
- Non-professional mower. These are all mowers that are widely sold in home and garden stores.
- Professional mowers. These are high-performance machines that mow 50 cm or more in width. Designed for mowing large areas - 1,000 - 2,000 and up, they have many ways to make it easier for you, including driving while driving. There are different types - thumb motors, garden tractors, riders and more.
- Mower - robot. They have full automation, which allows them to distinguish between mowed and unmown grass, to bypass obstacles, to calculate a separate route for optimal mowing of the terrain and more. Security systems turn it off automatically if it is raised or tilted.
Electric Vs Gasoline Mower
This is probably the first and most important question a person asks when starting to choose a lawn mower. According to the engine, mowers are divided into two major types - gasoline and electric.
- Electric lawn mower
The most important feature here is that the mowing mechanism is driven by an electric motor. This determines its advantages and disadvantages
- Advantages: it is much more compact than the motor one, because the electric motor needs less activities than the petrol engine - cooling, lubrication, etc. This reflects on the weight and makes it easier to transport and operate. It is also very economical because it works with electricity. It needs less maintenance and is unpretentious. All this ultimately reflects on the lower price.
- Disadvantages: The main disadvantage is related to the need for a cable to power the mower. Lawn without electricity is clearly not mowed with it.
However, even if you have electricity, more than 50 meters in radius is impractical to mow with it. The presence of bushes, trees, buildings and other obstacles to bypass also makes the task difficult or impossible to accomplish. These problems reduce the possible use only to the places in the immediate vicinity of the electrical socket.
The use of an electric mower is only practical when the mowing area is wide and there is nothing in it but a grass carpet.
- Main features: power. Because the motor is electric, it is measured in watts - W (W). The greater the cutting width, the more powerful the electric motor is installed at the factory. The smallest mowers are produced with a motor of about 1,000 V, and the most powerful of - 1,200 - 1,600 V. We remind you that 1,000 W = 1 kW (one kilowatt). This means that a 1,000 W mower will consume 1 kW of electricity per hour, or about 30 cents.
2. Gasoline Lawn Mower
- Advantages: does not depend on electricity. With it you can mow terrains without electricity, large terrains and areas where it would be very difficult with a cable.
- Disadvantages: gasoline engine. Because it has more systems, it needs more and more expensive maintenance. The oil in the crankcase is a key point - its level should be monitored and topped up if necessary. Regularly, after the expiration of the specified moto-hours, it should be changed. Ongoing maintenance is needed to ensure trouble-free operation.
- Gasoline mowers are significantly heavier and bulkier than electric ones and their transportation is a very problematic activity. In more powerful models, it turns out that often a person can not physically carry them alone.
- Main features: power. Because the engine is petrol, it is measured in horsepower (HP). The greater the cutting width, the more powerful the engine is installed at the factory. Massively, these mowers are made with 4-stroke gasoline engines with 2-2.5 horsepower for smaller and 2.5-3 horsepower for more powerful mowers with a larger cutting width.
Prices and selection of a suitable mower
Price should not be the only criterion for choosing this device. You need to comply with the above criteria and assess how far you want to compromise on price in the name of higher performance and convenience. First of all, you need to check if there is electricity where you will mow and whether it will be possible to mow by pulling an electric cable behind you.