Whether you wish to clean your overgrown lawn or want to flaunt a manicured garden, you need a lawnmower. These are essential kits to maintain your yard. However, you definitely should not purchase the first lawnmower that you have laid your eyes on.
Here we list down the different lawn mowers to educate you about them and make your selection easy.
1. Ride-on mowers
If you own a large lawn, then a ride-on mower is what you need. These make your work light cutting down the time taken to mow your lawn. They are efficient than most kinds of mowers but come with a price tag.
The ride-on mower can be further divided into three categories:
1.1 Lawn Tractor
Lawn tractors are the most common kind of ride-on mowers with front-mounted engines and are the first sight we imagine when we think of a ride-on mower.
These are perfect if you have a large lawn with a deck width ranging from 42 to 54 inches. The lawn tractors have an engine size of 18 to 25 horsepower with a choice of single and twin cylinders.
The basic tractor mower features a lever-operated gear transmission. The upgraded version has a continuously variable transmission. You can go further to buy a lawn tractor equipped with a hydrostatic pedal transmission.
The lawn tractor is perfect for large lawns, but the main concern that operators face is limited maneuverability. This makes it difficult to turn and tackle various obstacles.
1.2 Zero Turn Mower
Zero-turn mowers have lap bars on the frontal seat that controls them. This operates on the dual hydrostatic transmission in the rear wheels. It lets the lawnmower maneuver easily, making sharp turns and pivot easily, which offers a fantastic cutting performance.
The lawnmower gets close to obstacles cutting through landscaped edges and uneven shaded lawns to give a better finish. The lawnmower can cut grass even in a restricted space.
The deck width of this lawn variety ranges from 32 to 60 inches, and its horsepower is from 12 to 25. The engine size of the lawnmower ranges from 452 to 700cc. The cost of this mower depends on its specification and model.
1.3 Rear Engine Riding Mower
If you have a lawn that is sized moderately, then the rear-engine riding mower is what you need. The engine is held at the machine’s rear part under the driving seat. The deck is positioned under the driver’s seat.
The tractor is controlled with a hand lever that can be shifted on the go and operated by the variable transmission continuously. The single-cylinder engine has 10 or 11 horsepower.
The deck size of the rear engine ranges from 30 to 33 inches which makes it suitable for less than 2.5 acres of lawn. The rear-engine riding mower can maintain a lawn of this size that would usually go through much wear and tear.
2. Walk Mowers
As the name says, the walk mower is a lawnmower where the user walks behind the machine to mow the lawn. These are best for small lawns, something that is less than half an acre in size. Walk mowers offer greater versatility and variety, and these vary in quality, price, and features.
Here are the categories in which you can categorize the walking mower:
2.1 Cylinder Mower
The cylinder mower is also known as the reel mower. It has cylindrical blades at the frontal side of the mower, which rotates vertically and slices the grass. The grass is caught between the blades, and it is sliced off. The vertical blades can range from three to twelve in number. A higher number means a more precise cut.
The lawnmower is perfectly suited for flat lawns but does not work well on rough and uneven surfaces. It creates a neat cut to create a defined stripe. The mower is suited for soft grasses but may not work well on coarse grass. The mower also does not work well on an overgrown lawn.
The lawnmower has a roller in the back that is a two-in-one tool. In this kind of mower, you will see the grass box on the frontal side.
2.2 Rotary Mower
This is a common walk mower with a single blade that rotates at a very high speed horizontally cutting the grass in contact with the blade. The mower is best suited for medium and long grass.
2.3 Push Mower
When using the push mower, the operator needs to manually push the machine to mow the lawn. The rotor will trim the blade to cut the grass. The mower is the most inexpensive variety, lightweight, and can be handled easily.
The push mower can be maneuvered easily, reversing and steering around the corners and obstacles. The mower asks for physical exertion, which may not be a viable option for someone complaining of a health condition.
2.4 Self-Propelled Mower
The self-propelled lawnmowers propel forward with a transmission which saves the user from pushing the mower. The mower is easy and quick in doing the job. Since it does not need any manpower, the mower is liked by many.
The mower gives a consistent cut. However, since it is more technical, it needs higher maintenance. These are also expensive as compared to a push mower.
2.5 Hover Mower
The lawnmower hovers a few inches over the ground on a cushion of air. Since the mower does not contact the ground, it reduces friction and is also easy to guide along with the lawn. The mower can move in any direction, maneuvering around the obstacles. The hover mower is comparatively less expensive.
The main disadvantage of the mower is that it lacks power which makes it unsuitable for a large-sized lawn. The lawnmower is electric powered and best suited to use in small lawns.
3. Power Type Mowers
The type of power source that is the most appropriate for your mower will depend on your lawn’s size, strength, and personal preferences. The options to choose from when it comes to lawnmower power types are:
3.1 Manual Powered Mower
The manually powered mowers are like the push mower. The engine in the mower operates the blades only without offering it any momentum. The user needs to use his muscle power to give the mower momentum.
The mower operates quietly, is inexpensive, and is environmentally friendly.
3.2 Electric Powered Mower
The mower uses electricity. The mower is corded with a cable that gets power from an electrical source. This is the most widely purchased mower today. Small in size, the corded electric lawn mower is popular for small and medium-sized lawns.
The mower is easy to handle since it is light in weight and can also maneuver easily. It is also easy to store. You do not need to worry about charging it or the mower running out of gas. If you have electric power, then the mower will operate continuously. These are also affordable.
The main disadvantage of this lawnmower is that if your lawn is bigger than the cable, you will not cut the farther part of your lawn. Also, the cable will always be trailing behind you.
3.3 Gas-Powered Mower
The gas-powered mower runs on petrol. These are more powerful than the electric mowers and also do not bother you with the cables. The mower cuts even the tall and thick grasses and is much faster than the electric variety.
It is easy to steer the mower, but a major disadvantage of this type is that it is heavy and large. Since the mower operates with petrol, it is not good for the environment. You also need to regularly service and maintain the mower. They are expensive, and you will always need to top them with oil.
3.4 Battery-Powered Mower
The battery-powered lawn mowers run on a lithium-ion battery. These are long-lasting and light in weight. They can be used in gardens of all sizes, are heavier than the electric mower but lighter than the gas mower. The gas-powered mower is expensive but offers some added convenience.
The main drawback of this mower variety is that its run time is restricted to just an hour, after which it needs charging. The batteries do not run forever and thus needs to be replaced every few years,
4. Drive Type Mowers
Your mowers drive its performance as per the terrain that you drive it in. Here are the three drive lawn mower kinds.
4.1 Rear Wheel Drive
These mowers push forward with the motion of their back wheels. They are suited for wide and open spaces and work on unsteady and rough terrain. However, they fail to perform well in awkwardly shaped gardens with inclines and bumps.
4.2 Front-Wheel Drive
The front-wheel-drive mowers are propelled with the front wheels, which pull the mower with its turning motion. These are best suited for level lawns but do not work well on hills and slopes. The mower easily steers around obstacles and irregularly shaped yards.
4.3 All Wheel Drive
The mower has four wheels that are connected to a power source. Each wheel gets propelled equally, moving in unison. The mower has good power and speed, but it lacks maneuverability.
Conclusion
Lawnmowers are of various kinds, and you need to make the selection based on your budget, the type that is suited for your lawn, and the lawnmower specifications.
