Are you looking for a lawnmower, but are bewildered by what seems to be an endless variety of lawnmower types?
Well here are some tips to help you understand and eventually select the one that is right for you.
scissor action
These are those big generally steel lawn mowers that you push.
In terms of technology, they would have been familiar to our ancestors a century ago. As you push the mower, a rotating blade rotates along a rotating horizontal axis. Then simply cut the grass with a scissor-like action.
advantage
Close control cut. Many perfectionists swear by these mowers and say you can’t get a better finish.
cons
They are usually quite heavy and require quite a bit of muscle and lung power to move them. Perhaps not practical for large areas unless you can afford the ‘staff’ to do it for you!
They can also be difficult to turn easily and get a cut close to an edge.
Scissor actions ‘powered’ by gasoline engine
These were some of the first powered mowers. They’re pretty much the same as the first category above, except you don’t need to push them up and down.
advantage
The unit saves you effort.
cons
It can be a bit difficult to get close to the edges and even heavier to turn.
rotary mowers
Here, a rotating blade (metal or plastic) rotates about a vertically positioned drive shaft. So the cutting blade is at 90 degrees to its drive axis. Another aspect of the technology is that the mower does not have wheels, as it floats on a cushion of air.
They are usually electrically powered.
advantage
They are usually very easy to maneuver in all directions and with little manual effort. They can work reasonably well on slopes.
cons
Electrical cords can be restrictive and inconvenient, perhaps even dangerous if you’re not using a circuit breaker. Although they are easily pushed, in larger areas they may require some resistance. Some argue that the action of mowing tends to drag and tear the grass and makes it difficult to achieve a prestigious end result.
Ride-on rotary mowers
Usually gasoline-powered, they are very popular with people who have limited mobility/strength or a yard area that is so large that it makes a “walking” mower impractical. They often resemble a small tractor and come in all shapes, sizes, and power combinations. They need to be driven.
advantage
Minimal physical effort required even in large areas.
cons
It can be expensive, depending on the model selected. Bigger engines, transmissions and hydraulics can mean more things to go wrong. Since the rotary mower is usually placed in the center of the vehicle for stability reasons, it may be difficult to get close to the edge of the grass (eg against a wall) to make a cut.
Some can also be a bit slow in terms of maneuverability and turning radius etc.
Sit on front mounted mowers
On these devices, the rotary cutting blade is mounted in front of the vehicle and that means it can be much easier to get close to the edge of a grassy area.
advantage
Good access to the edges.
cons
They can be more expensive and are not ideal for uneven terrain or slopes.
Sit on zero turn mowers
Zero-turn mowers were once considered highly specialized and priced accordingly, but in recent years they have become much more affordable.
Essentially, they are usually vehicles with 360 degree ‘shopping cart’ type wheels at the front and that means they are exceptionally manoeuvrable.
advantage
They turn easily and can get into difficult places with ease.
cons
They can be a bit more expensive and, again, are not always ideal for slopes and uneven terrain.
