If you're not familiar with all the features that distinguish one mower from another, the information below will help you make the right choice. Each of the questions listed has a brief explanation and the main advantages and disadvantages.
Tractors (ride-on mowers)
The status symbol of garden machinery. But is your lawn big enough to justify it, and can you do without the exercise?
For (compared to walk-behind mowers):
Larger blade, therefore mows a large area in less time
Requires less physical effort
Possible use with attachments for other purposes e.g. tilling, hauling
Against (compared to walk-behind mowers)
Much higher price (£1500 upwards)
Access to corners and other tight spots restricted by the size of the blade and possibly the mower itself
Cuttings: mulching or bagging?
Mulching mowers shred grass cuttings into small pieces and spread them over the lawn to decompose, rather than collecting them for subsequent disposal.
For mulching:
Decomposing cuttings add to the richness of the soil
No cuttings to dispose of
Mowers without bags require less storage space
Against mulching:
Lawn looks neater because no cuttings are left on it
Need to cut grass regularly because only a certain amount of cuttings can “mulch in” at one time
Rollers or wheels?
Some walk-behind mowers are available with rear rollers rather than 4 wheels.
For rollers:
Stripes on the lawn
Supports the weight of the mower when going over the edge of a lawn
Against rollers:
Stripes – if you don’t like them!
Motor: electric or petrol?
To plug it in, or to start it up? With an electric mower you need to watch out for that cable, although today’s electric mowers have safety cut-outs just in case.
For electric mowers:
Cheaper to run
Less air pollution
Less noise
Less day-to-day maintenance
Against electric mowers
Petrol mowers have no cord, thus no restriction on size of lawn
Petrol mowers have more power, so they are better for long and/or wet grass
Motor: what about cordless electric?
A rechargeable battery-powered mower removes the inconvenience of “plugging in” while retaining the advantages of electric mowers.
For cordless electric mowers (compared to normal electric mowers):
More freedom and convenience
Against cordless electric mowers (compared to normal electric mowers):
Mowing time limited by battery
Higher price
Motor: how much power?
The horsepower rating of the mower affects the ease with which it cuts grass.
For more power:
Better, more even cut
Can cut longer or wetter grass
Tractors can tow larger loads
Against more power:
Higher price
Uses more fuel
Motor: multiple or single speed?
Some self-propelled mowers have only one speed setting.
For multiple speed:
Ensures the best cut with different depths or types of grass
Against multiple speed
Higher price
Transmission: hydrostatic or manual?
Tractors with hydrostatic drives have a variable throttle instead of a number of fixed speed settings.
For hydrostatic drives:
Fine tune the speed to exactly what you want
Against hydrostatic drives:
Somewhat higher price, depending on manufacturer
Starters: electric or manual?
This applies to petrol mowers, some of which are started by pulling a cord or handle and others using an electric starter, usually operated by a key.
