Literate choice lawn mowers

Many of the owners of private plots monitor the state of their landscape design. And it is not by chance – The first thing people see when they come to your plot is your lawn. As the grass makes a first impression about the owner of the estate. Who wants to see overgrown grass weeds under the window without giving preference to a well-kept lawn? But the beauty must be monitored, occasionally cutting your lawn. Therefore, with the onset of summer comes the thought of buying a lawnmower.

But bad luck! Not everyone suspects that lawn mowers called such a device that rides on wheels. The second type of benzo or electric tool has a completely different name. – It is called a trimmer. This is the same lawn mower, but intended to be carried in the hands and consisting of a bar cutting element and an engine. Make no mistake by asking the seller about the presence of the wrong device! By the way, we will also tell you about trimmers, but in another article. The main thing is that now you understand what the main differences between these devices are.

How to determine which lawn mower is right for you? How to make the right choice? What to pay attention to? We will help you to answer all these questions, after which you can easily choose the lawn mower that suits you best.

Lawn mower types

• Mechanical - The simplest type of lawn mower, driven mechanically, that is, with the help of your physical effort. It consists of a base on two wheels, a knife and a drum with steel blades are installed inside. Wheels at work set in motion the drum. Thus, the blade captures the grass, and the knife cuts the required length of the lawn. Structurally, mechanical mowers are able to adjust the length of cut grass from 1 to 5 centimeters. The width of mowed grass depends on the model and varies from 30 to 45 cm. This option is considered the cheapest lawn mower and, oddly enough, not the worst. Perfect for care of a young lawn. When working with such a mower you do not need to think about where to get the power source (electricity or gasoline). Do not have to carry a power cord or inhale harmful vapors. Do not have to disturb the family or closest neighbors of the constant noise from operating equipment. If you have a neat growing lawn, then such a mower will provide high quality haircuts. To move such a tool is very easy, it is ready to work in any weather. Such a lawn mower is not suitable only for cutting weeds and thick tufts of grass.
• Electric – if you have a small area, then this type of mower will suit you. Such devices do not have the greatest power and performance. As a rule, such mowers weigh a little and produce little noise. Thus, it will be a pleasure to operate the tool. The disadvantage of this type is that it directly depends on the length of the electrical cable to which it is connected. You also have to ensure that the wire does not fall under the cutting scissors. An electric tool does not tolerate moisture. Working in the rain or in wet grass can lead to device malfunction or even electric shock. Observe safety precautions!
• If you don’t want to wear an electric cable on your heels, lawn mowers working from battery. The energy from such a battery is enough to cut a 300 m plot.² or for 2 hours of work. You need to take care only that the charge was full.Since the mower on the battery is more convenient and mobile, the price of such a tool is much higher when compared with the tool that works on the mains.
• Petrol - it is recommended to use this type of lawn mower on large areas, ranging from 700 m². It features high reliability, power and performance. The body is made of steel, equipped with a grass collector, the possibility of mulching (grinding to small particles) or garbage to the side. Due to the greater bevel width, the largest area can be processed at a time. Gasoline engines, which are installed in such mowers, have their own resource hours. Household models with power up to 6 hp provide 500 motochas work, and professional - more than 1,000 motochas. Lawn mowers of this type have a fairly large weight, noisy engine operation, the need for fueling and timely maintenance.

Main selection criteria

Power

Gasoline mowers are much more powerful than electric mowers. This is explained by the fact that such tools work from the 220 V electrical network we are accustomed to. It is impossible to install a powerful engine in them, since the network simply cannot withstand the load that falls on it. The less power the engine has, the quieter it works. In petrol mowers, the issue with power looks much better. Included with the most expensive tools are headphones that are used to protect your ears from the hum of the motor. Choosing a gasoline device for the dacha, there is enough power in 5-7 l. with.

Performance

The performance of the device is directly related to power. If you have a plot of more than six acres (600 m²), it will be expedient to process it with a gasoline model, as it is able to work longer without interruption. Work with the help of an electric mower will not sustain such a rhythm, every 15 minutes it must be given time to rest, in order to avoid engine overheating. Also consider the length of the available cable or you will have to take care of connecting an extension cord.

Safety

When working with lawn mowers of any type, safety precautions should be followed. When processing the site, make sure that no objects fall under the knives (stones, garbage, toys of children). They can cause damage to the device, bending the knife.

When handling an electric mower, check the condition of the cable. It is necessary to suspend work in the rain and with wet grass.

Gasoline mowers emit a lot of exhaust gases, their work they produce a lot of noise. Therefore, appropriate protective equipment should be worn.

Service

Maintenance of a petrol powered instrument requires constant monitoring of the level of oil and fuel, since stable operation is directly dependent on this factor. The electric model does not need such control. If you don’t like preventive measures, you know what type of mower you should choose.

Weight

The weight of the tool is also an important indicator. Electric models can be used by teenagers and elderly people due to their low power and, accordingly, minimum weight. They are the most maneuverable and much easier to manage.

When working with mowers with an internal combustion engine, the load on the hands will be great, since the power and weight is much greater. Given all the above needs, think about who will control such a device.

note

Mulch function

On the one hand, it is very convenient when the cut grass is crushed inside the tool and gets back to the ground to fertilize the soil. It is necessary to take into account that this function is useful when the grass is soft and dry, otherwise a wet lawn will be formed by lumps and unevenly distributed on the ground. Thus, further growth will be uneven. In order to distribute the grass, it will have to constantly rebuild it, and this is extra work.Well, when the mower has a function of side ejection of grass - it is useful when cutting the lawn on the sides.

Presence of grass collector

The grass catcher can be plastic and fabric. The advantage of this device is that you do not have to additionally clean the area after cutting the grass. But work will have to be stopped periodically to clear the tank.

• Plastic the containers are the toughest, they are easier to wash and throw out the grass. Great for beveling wet grass. However, ventilation holes are often clogged, air flow is reduced, and aeration is disturbed. As a result, there are problems with throwing grass into this container. Because of this feature, the volume of the collection box almost never exceeds 35 liters. Most often, they are supplied with budget models.
• Fabricthe tank is soft, made of mesh or other dense material, convenient in storage, and the air circulates in it well. Working with this type of grass collector is very convenient. If the air stopped inflating it, it means that it is full. Manufacturers install on their models capacity up to 90 liters.

Cutting height adjuster

This feature is very useful if you have to mow a lawn of a different type, and you want to have different grass heights. Adjustment is fast, but if you need the same height, then this function will be superfluous.

Drive unit

There are two types of drive in lawn mowers. This suggests that during operation, the engine transmits rotation not only to the knives, but also to the drive. Thanks to this feature, to move the device does not require your efforts. It will be enough to send him in the right direction. Such models are more expensive, and energy is consumed more.

Front wheel drivemodels are easier to manage. You can turn around, standing still, without turning off the engine. However, with a full grass catcher or wet grass, the mower will have to be pushed.

Rear wheel drivealmost never stalled, however, to turn the engine will have to turn off.

Most Popular Manufacturers

When choosing lawn mowers, choose models from popular and reputable manufacturers. For example, we can advise you products Makita, Husqvarna, Al-co, Champion, Stiga, Viking, Bosch and Hitachi. Check out the potential of the selected model. It is possible that the functions with which it is equipped will be superfluous. You do not want to waste money?

Recommendations for purchase

• Before purchasing, calculate the area of ​​the treated area, thus determining the type of mower. Do not take a productive tool for a small area.
• Pay attention to the diameter of the wheels. The bigger it is, the easier it is to move the mower.
• Assess the condition of the knives. They must be sharp so that the grass has a natural cut.
• The most optimal tool body is aluminum. It is corrosion resistant, durable and lightweight.
• Tool management should be convenient.
• When choosing a particular model, take into account the width of the bevel - so you can calculate how many times you have to go around your site to get a smooth lawn.

To get a well-groomed lawn, you need a little bit. Enough diligence, labor and good lawn mowers. We hope that you make the right choice.