Which lawn mower to choose – electric or petrol?

What lawn mower is better to buy: choose the type and model

With the advent of summer the owners of private plots and cottages think about how to order their lawns. an important part of the landscape design. And the best solution to the problem will be the purchase of lawn mowers. However, making the right choice with all the variety of models and brands is not so easy. In this review we’ll talk about how to choose a lawn mower based on your individual needs and provide a rating of lawn mowers in three different categories of this gardening equipment.

How to choose the right lawn mower? To begin with it is necessary to understand the functional differences of lawn mowers from similar garden and park equipment: trimmers and brush cutters. Often, owners of suburban property do not see a significant difference between this equipment, which is fraught with errors when choosing equipment.

• A lawn mower is a medium-sized and powerful piece of equipment that moves on wheels to mow grass on a flat landscape.
• grass trimmer. a low-powered mechanism, designed to be carried in the hands, consisting of a cutting element, boom and motor. grass trimmer is used when it is necessary to cut the grass on an uneven surface, in hard-to-reach places and near plants. This device is usually used for relatively small areas. Or to mow the remaining areas where a lawn mower has not passed.
• lawn mower (lawn mower). more powerful and structurally more reliable version of the grass trimmer. Mowing high grass, uneven areas, etc. It can be used as the main tool to care for the area when there is no possibility to use a lawn mower, but because mowing is done manually and unevenly, it is not suitable for use on the lawn.

So we have established that the lawnmower is the best choice for plots with a flat landscape and simple geometry. But this is only the beginning of the way. Next you need to choose the type of mower. For ease of perception, the classification of mechanisms, the principles of operation of individual models, as well as their advantages and disadvantages are shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Principles of lawnmowers

Technical parameter	Advantages	Disadvantages
Type of motor and power source:
Electric motor without battery	Electric lawnmowers
	Environmentally friendly, does not require the purchase of fuel and lubricants, has a low noise level (at 80 dB).	Requires connection to the electricity grid, extension cord, risk of cable damage, dangerous to operate in rain and dew, have limited power.
Battery operated electric motor	Cordless and robotic lawnmowers
	Have the same advantages as listed above, but also are characterized by increased mobility. Robotic lawnmowers do not require the operator’s participation in the process of work.	Have the same disadvantages as above, but also weigh more, have limited working time from the battery (15 to 30 minutes), necessity of long recharging.
Gasoline internal combustion engine	Gasoline lawnmowers
	Highly productive, maneuverable, reliable and designed for hard work.	They are heavy, have high noise level (more than 90 dB), require regular maintenance and purchase of fuel and lubricants.
No motor, power supply by muscular force	Mechanical mowers
	Absolutely environmentally friendly, no noise, low cost, energy independent, can operate in all weather conditions, ideal for areas with short, young grass.	They require great physical effort for fast travelling, more time for mowing. Not suitable for dense or tall grass.
Drive type:
On the front wheels	Self-propelled front-drive lawn mowers
	Maneuverable when turning, easy to steer.	Use on flat lawns only.
Rear wheels	Self-propelled, rear-wheel drive mowers
	With larger-diameter rear wheels, able to work on slopes and rough terrain.	Not easy to turn, sometimes you have to stop or even lift some models.
All-wheel drive	Self-propelled 4-wheel drive lawnmowers
	Powerful and highly productive, versatile for landscaping of any complexity and for all-weather work, climbing up and down hills with ease.	High cost, high weight (about 50 kg).
Without drive	Non-propelled models
	Lightweight (about 15 kg), economical.	Necessary to push in front of themselves, low power (models with engine without wheel drive).
Operating principle:
Cylindrical (drum) mechanism (“combine principle”, with cutting blades twisted in a spiral around the rotating drum)	Lawn mowers with a drum cutting unit
	These include all two-wheeled models of mechanical mowers with manual drive, as well as some models with an electric motor, which determine the advantages of technology. Best quality of mowing (grass mowing).	Low power and manoeuvrability, not suitable for undeveloped areas.
The rotary cutting unit (“propeller principle”, a disc or 1-2 pairs of cutting blades. spindle blades) is fixed on the vertical rotating shaft	Lawn mowers with rotary cutting unit
	They are versatile, have the ability to adjust the height of the blades, which allows you to work on both elevated and uneven terrain. These include all four-wheel petrol and electric models.	Disadvantages are determined by the type of engine, drive, blades, housing material.
Airbag	The lawn mowers without wheels
	Maneuverable, with high cross-country ability and easy manageability, designed to work on an uneven terrain and in hard-to-reach places.	Rarely found on sale, have a small model range, difficult to direct in a straight line.
Power:
Electric. up to 1.5 kW Injection engine. up to 2.5 liters. с.	Low power lawnmowers
	Compact, lightweight, economical, ideal for small flat lawns with flowerbeds.	Small mowing width (up to 40 cm), high time and effort consumption for mowing, the ability to mow only young and short grass, poor functionality of machinery.
Electric mowers. 1,5-2 KW. с.	Medium power lawnmowers
	Best option for most sites with small surface slopes and unevenness, able to cut thick-stemmed weeds, mow lawns much faster.	Have a higher cost, relatively high weight and dimensions.
Gas engines. more than 6 hp	High Power Lawn Mowers
	Reliable and productive, they come in gasoline only, semi-professional and professional models.	High cost and the high cost of subsequent maintenance.

How to choose a lawn mower

A good choice of lawn mower means to link the technical and functional characteristics of the mowing area to the specifics of the area to be mowed and the user’s preferences. To do this we recommend to make a table, one column will contain the criteria you have set (personal preferences and site conditions), in the second. the correspondence characteristics of the mower to these parameters, for example, “1. yes” and “0. no”, in the third. their weight characterizing the individual importance to you. The most significant factors will have the maximum weight. a multiplication factor of points.

You can use our test that will greatly simplify your choice of mower type (Table 2). To calculate the result, add up the points corresponding to your answers and compare the resulting value with the nominal values (given at the end of the table).

Main issues

What is the area of the lawn?

For small areas up to 500 sq. Small, compact lawnmowers with low output are ideal for areas up to 1,000 square metres. These models are lightweight and inexpensive. For areas up to 1000 square metres in size, compact mowers are ideal for lawns of up to 12,000 square metres. m and above need more powerful equipment. It is usually more massive and more expensive. Over such an area, it requires more power and a number of additional features that make it easier to cut the grass. With their help, even the most complex work can be done easily and effortlessly.

How close the lawn is to a power source?

Where will be stored lawn mower?

Before you buy equipment, you should think about where to store it. Will it be a spacious garage or a cramped utility room? According to this already choose the size of lawn mower. Also think straight away if you have to go through a confined area, such as a door or gate. Measure the openings ahead of time so you can buy a model that will fit through them without any problems.

Let’s look at the main aspects of choosing.

Types of lawn mowers

Rotary mowers

The range of rotary lawnmowers includes models with:

Mechanical lawn mowers

The range of mechanical lawnmowers includes models that have:

Mowing width of 300 to 400 mm Height-adjustable mowing functions Grass collection capacity of up to 40 liters Weight of 6.1 to 9.1 kg

Robotic lawnmowers

They are designed to mow your lawn for you. The user does not need to participate in the process, so this technique is called the automatic mowers. They are great for any lawn area. However, the landscape must be fairly level. For example, the robot Bosch Indego is able to mow lawns up to 1000 square meters. м. During the first setup, use the touchpad to set lawn boundaries and LogiCut navigation maps for the most efficient mowing. Once set, the mower will move in parallel lines within the set boundaries. It covers the entire lawn and mows 30% faster than robotic lawnmowers with random guidance systems. Don’t worry about the robot hitting a curb or other obstacle. This is eliminated by tactile sensors that pick up the blades if something other than grass is in the way.

Bosch Indego has a cutting width of 260 mm, 10 cutting height settings from 20 to 60 mm, 32 V lithium-ion battery power, smart charging function.

Riders

The range of riders includes models that have:

Minitractors

There are models in the range of mini-tractors that have:

Comparing gasoline and electric units

The #1 criteria is power and noise level

In terms of power, gasoline-powered lawnmowers are significantly stronger than electric ones. The latter are powered by the network, which means that the manufacturers can not install too powerful electric motors, otherwise the network of 220 watts will not withstand the voltage. True, some models are additionally completed with a battery, but it is designed to work for up to 2 hours.

But the weaker the engine, the quieter it runs. Mowing the area with a gasoline unit, you will feel the roar of the engine. It’s not without reason that the most powerful mowers come with an accessory kit that includes headphones.

While working with a gasoline mower it is necessary to wear earphones to protect your hearing from the loud noise

By the way, the maximum capacity of gasoline models can cause machine breakage. Imagine if you’re mowing a medium powered mower and a pebble or bone accidentally falls under the blade brought by the dog. How the engine reacts? Shutting down! They take out the stone and quietly continue mowing. If the same object will get under a powerful gasoline lawnmower, the “horsepower” will be enough to move the jammed knives further. As a result. the cutterbar finally curves, causing the shaft to warp and breaking the bushings. This thing “smells” of complete overhaul!

For country needs quite enough gasoline motor with 6-7 “horses”, so before you choose a gasoline lawn mower, a higher power, think about whether you have on the site of “pitfalls” that will provoke such failures.

When choosing a lawn mower do not go for high-powered motors, because they take a lot of gasoline and difficult to manage

Criterion #2. performance

Performance is, of course, tied to power. Large and medium areas are easier to mow with gasoline models, because they can work for a long time without stopping. An electric motor won’t be able to keep up with the speed. They work for about 15 minutes, and then are given a rest to avoid overheating the mechanism. Т.е. It is enough power for the front lawn, but hardly enough for mowing 10 acres. Plus, consider the distance from your lawn to the power source before deciding on an electric lawnmower. The standard size of the unit’s cord is no more than 20 meters. And if you need to mow in 50 m. From a wall outlet, you have to buy more than 30 meters of extension cord. Good cable automatics the cost of the mower itself = the price of a medium-powered gasoline model. So is it worth “tying yourself” to a corded unit when you can buy a “free, not on a leash horse” for that price.

An electric mower is tied to the mains, so it requires an additional cable on large plots

Criterion #3 is maintenance

But in terms of maintenance, electric models are much easier. They don’t require constant monitoring of oil and gasoline levels, so it’s better to buy an electric version for people who don’t understand the intricacies of pouring liquids into motors.

Criterion #4. Safety Level

If to analyze, what is worth choosing a lawn mower on the level of safety, then both options have their disadvantages. So, gasoline models are not happy with the number of exhaust gases that somehow have to inhale the mower, especially when processing small areas. Electric machines have no harmful emissions, but they cannot be used in wet weather. In addition, in case of careless handling there are cases when the cutting part runs into the cable and cut it, which can be dangerous. And yet, if according to the instructions to mow only in rubber boots, it is more comfortable to work with an electric mower.

Criterion #5. the weight of the machine

When choosing a gasoline lawnmower, consider who will have to work with it. This model has a heavy engine, so it’s harder to pull than an electric mower. The load on their hands is high, which means that women, teenagers, and the elderly find it difficult to work with these machines. Electric models are more maneuverable, easier to control and smoother to drive. All the operator has to do is to steer the cart in the right direction.

What to watch when buying a specific model?

If you have already made up your mind as to whether you buy a petrol or electric lawnmower, then there are some details to consider when making your purchase.

Existence and quality of grass catcher bag

Many models have a grass catcher box where the blades of grass cuttings are deposited. The advantage of such a device is that there is no need to rake the grass after mowing, but you have to stop working from time to time to clean the sack full.

Soft grass bags have an easier control of the grass catcher bag filling level

The bags are available in two designs: soft (made of grass mesh) and rigid (made of plastic). In soft bags, it is easier to control the level of filling: once the bag has stopped blowing up when air is pumped, it means that it is already full. That’s no way to check a plastic bag. But when you mow damp grass the second version is much more convenient, because wet grass stuck to the grid walls and so clog it that you have to wash the bag after work, and even vacuum it up.

Mulching function

Some lawn mowers have a device that finely chops everything that gets inside, and throws it away as mulch for lawn fertilization. Seems like a useful addition, but! Good mulch only works when mowing absolutely dry, soft grass. And if you mow a wet lawn, the mulch material gets lumpy. The lumps scattered over the lawn clog the roots of the grass and do not allow it to grow properly. Your lawn can end up with “bald patches. In addition, too much mulch also causes so-called felt to form which gradually rises higher and higher and prevents proper grass growth. You have to rake over the entire lawn to comb out the excess.

The mulching function is only good for those owners who don’t care about the quality of their lawn. It saves them the trouble of having to take their clippings somewhere else.

Side discharge of grass

This is a useful feature for places where you need to cut the grass at the curb.

Front-drive or rear-drive models (for petrol lawnmowers)

There are two types of drive in gasoline-powered units. The front one is easier to operate. With these machines, you can turn right around on the spot, without shutting down the motor. But when the grass box is full, or the grass is heavy (wet, tall), you’ll have to constantly push the mower to keep it moving. Rear-mounted models are virtually immobilized, but to turn them, the wheel drive lever must be disengaged.

Front-drive mowers are more maneuverable, but they can slip when the bag is full

Grass cutting height adjustment

If you have to deal with different areas, this feature is handy, especially since it takes no more than 3 minutes to adjust. If you mow the same area all the time, the same height is usually set, so there’s no sense in overpaying for a height control.

No two opinions are the same about what the best lawn mowers look like. Any model can be a great helper in the household, if it has been selected with the above tips, not only on the brand of manufacturer and price.

Products that run on gasoline

What to choose a gasoline lawnmower, if all of them are reliable, have maneuverability and long life. Weight of the machine, noise level (over 90dB), purchase of fuel and lubricants and regular maintenance are important factors in the choice. The more powerful the motor, the higher the noise level, so you need to wear headphones while working. We must take into account the fact that the high power of the motor. it’s not always good.

In areas with difficult landscapes, a stone or bone hidden by a dog in the grass, any foreign solid object can get under the cutting element. Then the engine can stall, and a high-powered lawn mower will have a breakdown if the engine doesn’t stall. It will rotate cutting tools that are already jammed. Then the blades will warp, the shaft will become deformed and the bushings will collapse. an expensive overhaul will have to be done. It is recommended to purchase 6-7 horsepower equipment for medium-sized areas.

The best gasoline lawn mowers include the following models:

• Swedish Husqvarna LC 356 AWD is a self-propelled machine with 4-wheel drive that provides better traction on slopes and slippery wet surfaces. The body of the model is made of steel, the product is equipped with adjustable cutting height, side discharge grass from a soft collector having the volume of 68 liters, also mulching. The product is heavy. up to 39.5 kg. Recommended for mowing grass on large lawns with the presence of irregularities and slopes. Price. 60 thousand.
• Caiman Ferro 52CV is a self-propelled model with common mowing system: collection, side discharge, mulching. Variator speed has 7 steps. The engine can withstand heavy loads without reducing productivity when working on large plots. up to 30 acres. Produced by Ferro series according to innovative technical solutions using high quality materials. Price. in the range of 40 thousand.

Mechanical units

The best mechanical models include:

• AL-KO Soft Touch 38 HM Comfort. a mechanical two-wheeled drum lawnmower up to 7.9 kg in weight. The model has high maneuverability, lightweight and durable body. Can work on the area of the plot 250 m2±20%. The high quality drum has 5 blades for a perfect cut.
• The Husqvarna 54 is a two-wheeled product for use on level ground with short grass. The blades mow to a width of. 40 cm, the weight of the unit. 8.6 kg. This product is easy to manage, it is wear-resistant, if desired, you can install a grass catcher box on it.

Important. When choosing lawn mowers, you need to pay attention to their weight, because you will have to work with them regularly and for a long time. The gasoline units have more powerful and heavier engines. Lighter electric counterparts are easier to manage.

Which features are the most important??

It is clear that the steeper the features, the more expensive the mower. And the price can differ by 10 times, or even more. How to choose correctly, to not overpay, not to be a bargain and to be satisfied?

First you need to formulate the task: what is the area to be mowed, what is the topography of the site, what is the quality of grass, whether there are a lot of plantings? Setting conditions. We get the answer!

• Deck width: starting at 30 cm
• Grass catcher box capacity: from 30 litres
• Engine power: from 1.5 liters.с. and better
• self-propelled: no

• Deck width: from 40 cm
• Grass box capacity: from 40 liters
• Engine power: from 1.5 liters.с. and better
• self-propelled: no

Gasoline lawnmower or electric lawnmower?

On the network between users a lot of disputes on this subject. And everyone is right in his own way. Compare lawn mowers based on 7 important criteria.

Productivity. An electric lawn mower can also get the job done with a perfectly straight lawn. 1.5 to 3 horsepower is enough. If your lawn is far from perfect, if the grass is with weeds, and the area is large, complex, then you need a larger capacity. The choice of powerful lawn mowers with a gasoline engine is much more.

We recommend paying attention to the following models:

Convenience of use. Electric mowers have a huge disadvantage. the cord. The wire length of about 40 m, you need to fix it all the time, get it out of the bushes, try not to run over it It turns out that the wire. It’s not just an inconvenience, it’s a headache. And the larger and more complex the site, the greater the pain.

Easy to maintain. And here already has a headache for the gasoline lawnmower. They need the same maintenance as a motorcycle: They need to be stored in a specific position, lubricated, filled with petrol and engine oil of good quality. An electric lawnmower is as simple as a vacuum cleaner: just clean it, put it down and forget about it.

Engine longevity. The engine life of an electric lawnmower is much longer. For a gasoline engine after a couple of seasons you’ll have to buy parts.

Noise. Electric lawn mowers are much quieter than petrol ones. That’s a fact!

We recommend paying attention to the following models:

Eco-friendliness. With a gasoline lawnmower, the exhaust is added to the noise. Yes, it makes noise and puffs like a tractor.

Price. Electric mowers cost less than petrol mowers. It is also necessary to consider the cost of maintenance. Electricity is cheaper than gasoline, motor oil and spare parts.

Despite its bad performance and manoeuvrability, the electric mower is winning this fight with a score of 2 to 5. And the problem of wire is solvable, because there are cordless mowers.

Is it worth it to pay attention to the brand?

Once the type of mower, power and mowing width are determined, the buyer will be offered several models from different manufacturers to choose from. The first thing you usually notice is the price difference. Sometimes it can be very important.

expensive machines are produced by companies that specialize in the production of garden equipment: Ryobi, Al-ko, Craftsman, Efco, Gardena, Husqvarna, MTD, Oleo-mac, Partner, Toro, Yard-man. Some of them produce devices of professional class, which are used by employees of public utilities, landscapers. This means that the machines are designed for a long service life and withstand daily operation. The high quality of the equipment is also evidenced by long warranty periods. Many of these manufacturers have them for 2-3 years.

Mowing a single lawn once every 10 days places far fewer demands on machinery. Therefore, other manufacturers, producing household products at lower cost, quite successfully compete with the above-mentioned manufacturers.

The buyer should assess their objectives to decide whether it makes sense to buy an expensive model. It is also important to find out where the nearest service center of the selected manufacturer is located. It is not only necessary for possible repairs.

The point is in the service. Lawn mower blade must be sharpened once a year or replaced with a new one. Sharpening is recommended in the service center, usually you can buy it there as well. The same applies to other parts of the device.

Read about it in the article “Lawn Mower Consumables” (text )

In an online store “VseInstrumenty.ru” online store presents more than 20 manufacturers of lawn mowing equipment. Anyone can be confused by the variety. After all, the tool must have sufficient power, a suitable mowing width, size and weight. If you have any questions, call our manager, and you will get recommendations from a qualified specialist.

Lawn mower types

Lawn mowers on the market can be divided into five basic types:

To decide which mower to choose for the country house or for professional lawn mowing, first read about the characteristic advantages and disadvantages of each type:

They are mostly used on relatively small plots. The reason is evident. the electric lawnmower’s reach is limited by the length of the power cord. It is not very pleasant to drag a long tail, and even make sure that the blades of the mower does not damage it. Nevertheless, electric lawn mowers are convenient for working in the yard, where there is always the possibility of connecting

The advantages of electric mowers

• Noiselessness. We can not say that the electric mower is completely silent, but the comparison with gasoline mower, of course, will not be in favor of the latter. The maximum recorded noise of an electric lawn mower is barely 50 dB, while gasoline mowers produce 90.
• Economy. No fuel, no engine oil, no spark plugs. Electricity is considerably cheaper than petrol.
• Eco-friendliness. No harmful emissions.
• Price. The most expensive electric lawn mower will cost you roughly 5 or more times cheaper than a similarly equipped gasoline mower.
• Low weight. That makes them easier to transport.
• Unpretentiousness. Electric mowers require minimum maintenance. No piston system inspections or repairs. And if you have to rewind a burned out electric motor, it will be much cheaper than repairing the internal combustion engine.

Disadvantages of electric mowers:

• Mains dependence. As already mentioned, you can’t go farther away from the outlet than the cord length allows. You will either have to use extension cords, which also does not add convenience to the process of work. But it’s not just the length of the power cord that limits the working area.
• Low power. Electric motors installed on such mowers are much weaker than internal combustion engines. Approximate operating power range of these motors 900-2000 watts. They tend to overheat, so you have to stop the engine regularly to cool it down. Prolonged overheating can lead to serious malfunctions. However, most modern models are equipped with a special temperature sensor that will not allow you to bring the electric motor to a dangerous degree of overheating.

Probably the most popular lawn mower type. This group includes almost all professional units. Gasoline-powered mowers are usually used on plots larger than three acres, but they are also used on smaller plots if there is no power connection. If you are wondering how to choose a gasoline lawnmower, familiarize yourself with the disadvantages and advantages inherent in this type:

• Autonomy. Independence from external energy sources.
• Power. Gasoline models tackle much tougher terrains than electric models.
• Working session duration. No need to stop the engine for cooling. Working time is limited only by fuel tank capacity.
• Maneuverability. Due to the lack of power cord, gasoline lawnmowers are widely used on landscapes with complex design (alpine hills, trees, shrubs).
• Low eco-friendliness. The most obvious and significant disadvantage. Exhaust fumes, an integral part of the internal combustion engine, may cause you discomfort.
• Noisy. Again, the gasoline engine is noisy at over 90 dB.
• fastidiousness in maintenance. Internal combustion engine requires regular maintenance, you will have to spend money on fuel and lubricants and periodically change the spark plugs.
• Heavy weight, making these mowers inconvenient to transport.

When choosing a gasoline lawnmower, pay attention to the engine power.

Household models use engines with a capacity of 2.3-5 л. с. with an approximate volume of 110-190 cm³. As a rule, these models are used for mowing areas with no more than 8 acres. For such an engine a service life of about 700 hours is usually given. This means that after seven hundred hours of work it must undergo a scheduled repair.

Semi-professional lawnmowers are equipped with 5-7 litre lawnmower engines, the lawnmower is a special kind of juice. с. with a working volume of 160-200 cm³. This unit allows you to work an area of 5 to 20 acres. It is rated at up to 1,200 hours.

And finally, professional lawn mowers are equipped with an engine with more than 7 horse powers. The engine generally has a displacement of more than 200 cm³ and a lifespan of more than 2,500 hours. Such devices are used not only by utilities, but also by private individuals who want to buy a lawn mower with a good margin of reliability. In addition to the powerful engine, such models are characterized by extended functionality. Most often they carry on board additional trimmers for grass, devices for mulching, etc. п.

Among gasoline lawn mowers are so-called riders.

In brief, the rider is a lawn mower, which is equipped with a saddle, steering wheel and pedals. And it does not need to be pushed, you do not even have to walk behind it. The rider drives itself, mowing the grass at the same time.

In addition to mowing grass, the rider can perform a variety of functions. Some models allow snow plowing attachments on the front instead of the mowing deck. In addition, there is an attachment in the back, to which you can also attach additional devices (planter, plow, small cargo trailer, etc.). п.).

It should be noted right away that lawnmowers are not only gasoline mowers. There are some battery-powered riders, but they are still pretty rare and not very popular.

Lawn mower selection criteria

Here we take a look at the individual elements of lawn mowers that are or may be in devices with both gasoline and electric engines.

Lawnmower bodies and decks

Sometimes these two concepts are mixed, but the housing and deck are different elements of construction.

The deck is called the load-bearing part of the construction, the frame on which all the other nodes and blocks are mounted. The casing usually covers the top of the mower, covering the mechanisms from outside influences.

The following materials are used to make the deck and body:

• plastic is the most economical choice. Not subject to corrosion, but very susceptible to mechanical influences and temperature changes;
• High impact ABS plastic. stands up to shocks, pretty much resistant to abrasion. Even a few deep scratches will not affect the operation of the unit;
• steel. strong, reliable, not expensive. But has a lot of weight, and if you damage the anti-corrosion coating, can be beaten by rust.
• Aluminum is the most practical, but also the most expensive option. Lightweight, not prone to corrosion, durable. Professional models are most often mounted on aluminum decks.

Lawn mower wheels

It is preferable to choose a lawnmower with a larger diameter and width of the wheels, as well as with a rather rough tread pattern. It’s easier to steer and pass over difficult terrain, and larger wheels are less damaging to the grass and soil.

There is also a distinction between wheels mounted on bearings or on sliding sleeves. The former are more expensive, but more durable, reliable and friction-free.

Lawn mower drive

A distinction is made between non-propelled and self-propelled mowers.

In non-self-propelled mowers, all power of the engine unit is spent on rotation of the cutting mechanism, and the movement is done by the user’s muscular power. In other words, you have to push it yourself. This option is better suited for flat lawns.

Self-propelled mowers drive themselves, you just have to push them. Among self-propelled mowers, there are mowers with front, rear or all-wheel drive. Each of the options has its own advantages:

Grass catchers in lawn mowers, mulching function

If the grass catcher box is not used, grass clippings can be thrown back or to the side. Some models allow you to use both, and a so-called mulching function may be available.

Mulching is shredding grass clippings into a fine dust for subsequent use as an organic fertilizer. It is recommended to leave mulched grass on the lawn from time to time, as it has a positive effect on the state of the lawn. But not too much. Experts recommend fertilizing your lawn with mulched grass not more than once a week, otherwise it does not have time to decompose and blocks the growing grass from accessing sunlight.

As you have probably already realised, there is no universal recipe for every user. The choice depends entirely on the characteristics of your site, your preferences and budget.

The volume of the herb collection

You should not buy less than 65L. Grass catcher provided that take off more than 10 cm of the mower for grass is hammered every 70-80 m. And to shake it out is a pleasure. Especially if the design is full of obstacles as in this video stiffeners inserted directly above the grass box

In the end, every 5 minutes you’ll think why didn’t I buy a grass catcher box 20% bigger.

Below at the end of this page I showed you how to mow correctly, so you don’t have to empty the grass catcher box every 20 seconds, and the output wouldn’t go down. Read all the way to the bottom and you’ll see.

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Lawn mower types

How to choose the right mower? To begin with, it is necessary to understand the functional differences of lawn mowers from similar garden and park equipment: trimmers and brushcutters. Often the owners of country properties do not see a significant difference between these equipment, which is fraught with errors when choosing equipment.

• A lawn mower is a wheeled lawn mower of medium size and power for mowing lawns on a level landscape.
• grass trimmer. a mechanism of low power, designed to be carried in the hands, consisting of a cutting element, boom and motor. Grass trimmer is used when it is necessary to cut the grass on an uneven surface, in hard-to-reach places and near the plants. this device is usually used for relatively small areas. Or for mowing up the remaining areas where a lawnmower didn’t pass.
• lawn trimmer (lawn mower) is a more powerful and structurally more reliable variant of grass trimmer. Designed for mowing tall grass and mowing uneven areas. Can be used as a basic tool for maintenance of the site, if there is no possibility to use a lawn mower, but because the mowing is done manually and unevenly, it is not suitable for use on the lawn.

So we’ve established that a lawn mower is best for areas with flat landscaping and simple geometry. But that’s just the beginning. Next we need to choose the type of lawnmower. For ease of perception, the classification of mechanisms, the principles of the individual models, as well as their advantages and disadvantages are shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Working principles of lawnmowers

Technical parameter	Advantages	Disadvantages
Type of engine and power source:
Electric motor without battery	Electric lawnmowers
	Environmentally safe, does not require the purchase of fuel and lubricants, have a low noise level (at 80 dB).	Requires connection to the electricity grid, extension cord, risk of cable damage, dangerous to operate in rain and dew, have limited power.
Electric motor with battery	Cordless mowers and robotic lawnmowers
	Same advantages as listed above, and higher mobility. Robotic lawnmowers do not require an operator.	These have the same disadvantages as listed above, but also weigh more, have a limited battery operating time (15 to 30 minutes), and require a long recharging period.
Gasoline engine	Gasoline mowers
	High-efficiency, maneuverable, reliable and for intensive exploitation.	Heavy, noisy (over 90 dB), requires regular maintenance and purchase of fuel and lubricants.
No engine, but source of power through muscular effort	Mechanical mowers
	Totally environmentally friendly, no noise, low cost, energy independent, can be used in all weather conditions, ideal for areas with short, young grass.	Requires a lot of physical effort for fast movement of the equipment, a large expenditure of time for mowing. Not suitable for thick or tall grass.
Drive type:
With front wheels	Self-propelled front-wheel drive lawnmowers
	Manoeuvrable at headlands, easy to steer.	They are used only on flat lawns.
On rear wheels	Self-propelled, rear-mounted mowers
	With larger-diameter rear wheels are able to work on slopes and rough terrain.	They are not convenient for making a U-turn, sometimes it is necessary to stop and even lift some models.
All wheel drive	Self-propelled four-wheel drive lawn mowers
	Powerful and high-capacity, versatile for any terrain and all-weather conditions, effortlessly climbs and descends hills.	High cost, high weight (about 50 kg).
Without drive	Non-self-propelled models
	Lightweight (approx. 15 kg), economical.	Necessary to push in front of you, low power (models with engine without wheel drive).
Working principle:
Cylindrical (drum) mechanism (“combine principle”, with cutting blades twisted in a spiral around the rotating drum)	Lawn mowers with drum cutting unit
	These include all two-wheeled models of mechanical mowers with manual drive, as well as some models with an electric motor, which determine the advantages of technology. They allow the best quality of mowing (cutting the grass).	Have low power and passability, not suitable for neglected areas.
Rotary cutting unit (“propeller principle”, a disc or 1 to 2 pairs of cutting blades of spindle knives are fixed on the vertical rotating shaft)	Lawn mowers with rotary cutting unit
	They are universal, have the possibility of adjusting the height of the blades, allowing to work both on high grounds and in uneven terrain. This includes all four-wheel-drive petrol and electric mowers.	Disadvantages are determined by the type of motor, drive, blades, housing material installed.
Air cushion	Cylinderless mowers
	Maneuverable, high passability and easy manageability, designed to work on uneven terrain and in hard-to-reach places.	Rarely found on sale, have a small range of models, difficult to guide in a straight line.
Power:
Electric. up to 1,5 kW In-house engines. up to 2,5 l/s	Low-power lawn mowers
	Compact, lightweight, economical, ideal for small flat lawns with flowerbeds.	Small mowing width (up to 40 cm), high amount of time and effort required to cut the lawn, the ability to cut only young and short grass, poor functionality of the technique.
Electric. 1,5-2 kW ICE. 2,5-6 hp	Medium lawn mowers
	Best option for most sites with small surface slopes and unevenness, capable of cutting weeds with thick stems, significantly speeds up the process of lawn mowing.	Have a higher cost, relatively large weight and dimensions.
than 6 l/sec engine	High-power lawn mowers
	Reliable and productive, there are only gasoline-powered, semi-professional and professional models.	High cost and high maintenance costs.