If you’re in the market for a lawn mower, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re hoping to upgrade your current mower or you’ve moved into a home with a yard for the first time, this guide will tell you everything you need to know about buying a lawn mower.
Push or ride? It depends on your lawn size
The main two types of lawn mowers are push mowers and riding mowers. Put simply, you push push mowers around your yard whereas you sit on and ride riding mowers. If you’re unsure of which one to buy, it’s worth considering the size of your yard.
If you have a yard of less than half an acre, a push mower will suit you fine. If your yard is larger than half an acre, however, pushing a lawn mower around your yard could be an exhausting task. For a large yard, you’re better off buying a riding mower.
Do you need a self-propelled mower?
If you have a small, flat yard, a standard push mower or even a reel mower could suit you just fine. If your garden has lots of hills or any other type of difficult terrain, you should consider purchasing a self-propelled mower. These propel themselves meaning that pushing them around is far easier, especially if you’re mowing uphill.
What is lawn mower deck size?
The deck size of a lawn mower is the width of the blades – something to bear in mind if you’re buying a lawn mower or you need parts to fix your lawn mower. Standard lawn mowers have a deck size of 30 to 60 inches. Smaller decks are easier to manoeuvre, so are ideal if you have a small yard with lots of corners. On the other hand, if you have a large yard with lots of straight lines, a larger deck will make it easy and quick to mow.
Gas or electric?
Gas lawn mowers are long-lasting and powerful, but they can be more difficult to use and maintain. Electric lawn mowers need to be plugged in, or charged if they are cordless, but they are quieter and better for the environment.
Side-discharge or bagger?
When buying a lawn mower, it’s important to consider where you want to grass clippings to end up. Traditional and cheaper lawn mowers have a side-discharge function, where grass clippings come out of the side of the lawn mower. Many people leave these clippings on the lawn as they disintegrate quickly and can act as fertilizer.
On the other hand, you could spend a bit more on a lawn mower with a bagger function. You might have to buy the bagger separately and replace it every now and then, but these mowers keep all the grass clippings in a bag for you to dispose of separately.
Lawn mower attachments
Some lawn mowers are compatible with additional attachments that are great if you want to up your gardening game. Your lawn mower could come with these attachments when you buy it or it might be compatible with ones you can buy separately.
Popular lawn mower attachments include rakes, lawn rollers, and fertilizer spreaders.
Stewart Thurlow
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