Buying a Lawn Mower – What You Need to Think About

Buying a lawn mower can involve a considerable outlay, especially if you have a large lawn, and as a piece of

equipment that will be used regularly throughout the spring and summer it is important that you make the right choice. As with the purchase of any domestic equipment, there are many factors that will influence your decision and these are not limited to just the size of your garden.

The main deciding factor is the size and shape of your garden, along with the regularity with which you will be mowing the grass. Small gardens with lots of plants, borders and furniture require a small and lightweight lawn mower that is easy to manoeuvre around obstacles. Often, an electric or manual lawn mower is a good choice as they are lightweight and easy to store. Storage space is another major deciding factor, as smaller properties may not have outside storage for a large lawn mower.

The next thing to think about is the terrain and type of grass you have. Cylinder lawn mowers have a series of blades at the front, which trim the grass quite short and are suited to flat and level surfaces that will be mown regularly. If you have uneven ground or patches of rough grass then a rotary mower is a better choice. These have blades that cut horizontally and are typically suited to gardens with slopes and varying grass types. The blades can be set to cut at a height you choose, so can trim the grass very short, or leave it a little longer, and ensure that the blades will cut above the level of any rocky patches.

Hover lawn mowers are a variant of the rotary mower, except they hover above the grass on an air cushion making them much easier to move around. This type of lawn mower is a good choice if you have a lot of garden features that cannot be moved easily to mow the lawn, as they can skirt round them without much effort. People with limited strength or mobility should consider hover lawn mowers first, as they are much more user friendly than a heavier type of mower.

Those with large law

ns might consider a ride-on lawn mower, but these are only suitable where there is enough space to turn the machine at either end of the lawn. Croquet lawns and other large garden spaces are ideal for this type of mower. Any lawn over 250 square metres needs a lawn mower with a wider cutting width, otherwise you could find that the job takes far longer than it should. If you are mowing your lawn every week, or every fortnight, it’s worth investing in a large lawn mower that will get the job done quickly. An electric cordless lawn mower is a good choice here, as you are not reliant on being plugged into a socket. For the same reason, a petrol mower is well suited to large spaces. Self propelling mowers are also a good way to mow the lawn without having to push a heavy machine up and down the garden for hours on end.

The last consideration is collecting the grass. Most lawn mowers have a detachable box for collecting the clippings, but if you would prefer to leave these on the lawn then the box can be removed. If you want to compost them, then the collection box allows you to do this easily. Those with large lawns should think about how often they will need to empty the clippings, as a large box will mean fewer stops. However, a larger box needs more space to store it, so you may need to make a compromise.

Once you have had a chance to ponder some of the deciding factors in lawn mower choice give our expert sales team a call on 01452 616169 to discuss all your options.