It is no secret that a type of mower varies greatly in the market. Thus, it is crucial to consider a few things ere purchasing.
This kit itself is very critical for lawn care as well as yard maintenance. It allows you to keep your outdoor space neat and free from any overgrown or unwanted meadow.
To help you find the best mower that suits your preferences and budgets, I have done the homework to list all types of lawnmowers available out there. Without further ado, let’s check them out!
Walk Mowers
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As the name suggests, this term refers to a type of mower that requires the user to walk along behind the equipment during use.
If you have a small lawn, a walk lawnmower makes a good option. It is typically suitable for a yard sized up to half an acre.
With a half-acre lawn, you may need a few hours to get the job done with a walk mower. That’s why choosing a ride-on one is somehow forgiven for this size.
Compared to other mowers, this one provides the broadest varieties as well as versatility.
You can find this type of mower in an extensive range of value and variety. They will also come in different additional features for your true interest.
Rotary Mower
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This one is the most common type of walk mower you can find in the market. It features a lone blade that revolves at a very high pace in a horizontal shift.
It is safe to say that a rotary mower works like a blender or food processor since the kit will cut grass as the object comes into contact with its blade.
If you are working with medium to long grass, this type of mower can be perfect. This way, it allows leaving longer amid mowing sessions without causing any problem.
Unlike a cylinder mower, this variety gives a less precise cut. It typically thumps and thrashes the blades of the lawn around, piecing them on impact because of the swift rotation.
While it can slice grass quickly, the result tends to be more uneven and less accurate than its counterpart.
The good news is that the cut is mostly unnoticeable to most people, particularly on a standard lawn with bumps, colors, slopes, and depth variations.
However, if you have a more manicured lawn, the dissimilarities between the two cuts are more obvious with the cylinder mower providing a better-quality result than the rotary.
Cylinder Mower
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Also known as reel lawnmowers, this type of mower features vertically rotating cylindrical blades at the frontage that cuts against a permanent one.
A cylinder lawn mower works by trapping the grass between its sharp blades and slicing it off. This action is nothing similar to how scissors work.
This mower’s vertical blades may vary in a quantity ranging from three to 12. One with a bigger amount of knives tends to offer an extra accurate cut.
You should use a cylinder mower on flat lawns since it is not designed to deal with rough or uneven surfaces.
If you are planning to create defined stripes on the lawn, this type of mower will bestow a neat cut as expected.
The reel mower suits soft lawns the best and is not capable to handle coarse types perfectly. You will find it struggling to cut the long grass too.
As a result, you have to keep on mowing and cut your lawn frequently with a cylinder mower since it will not carry out well on overgrown grass.
Throughout the growing season, you need to mow your lawn minimally once or twice a week if you opt for this type of mower.
Different from a rotary model, this type of mower comes with less accessible blades that are hard to sharpen. This is pretty unfortunate since the kit typically requires regular maintenance.
When you do not service a cylinder mower regularly, its blades may begin to chew the grass, resulting in a very poor cut.
Furthermore, a cylinder mower is typically less adjustable compared to others. Since this type is rather uncommon, you may find it difficult to get replacement parts if needed.
That’s why this type of mower is recommended for a mechanically-skilled gardener who takes price in a tidy and short grass cut.
Hover Mower
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Unlike other mowers, this kit hovers several inches above the ground, assembling on a cushion of air.
Since it does not get into contact with the ground too much, you can expect this mover to be very easy to drive around your lawn.
You can easily guide this type of mower in any route including sideways, making it particularly practical for yards that have awkward shapes.
It can handle lawns that have a variety of trees, planters, or other garden features by maneuvering around these obstacles with ease. This type of mower also gives you more control in handling grass edges.
More interestingly, all these benefits of hover mowers do not require you to break the bank since it is reasonably cheap.
However, it does not mean that the hover mower does not come with drawbacks. The major issue is that the machine typically lacks power, especially for a big sized lawn.
Besides, since a hover mower is frequently electric-powered, it will be more suitable for narrow lawns.
Self Propelled Mower
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A self-propelled lawn mower has a transmission that pushes the machine forward. Thus, you just need to guide the equipment instead of driving it.
This mower is very easy to handle and makes mowing a lawn much simpler. The principal advantage of this tool is that it does not need any manpower.
Additionally, this type of mower tends to provide a more consistent cut compared to the push ones since it can keep a stable speed.
However, you should note that a self-propelled mower is more mechanically technical. Thus, it needs constant maintenance and can be more difficult to fix when something goes astray.
Compared to push mowers, the self-propelled ones tend to be more costly to purchase as well yet many users find that their main feature makes them worthier.
Push Mower
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The name of this mower indicates the fact that the users need to manually force the machine across their lawn.
While it features a motor that powers up the blades, the wheel action is all under your control. Due to its inexpensive price, push mowers are very popular.
Besides, a push mower is also very lightweight and effortless to drive. It provides good maneuverability as well, allowing you to direct the machine accurately.
Steering around corners and obstacles, or even reversing is very easy with this type of mower. You can lift the kit effortlessly into a truck bed as well if needed.
Moreover, if you are eager to add some extra exercise by gardening, this mower is perfect because it takes a little physical exertion.
Nevertheless, people with health problems or those who do not want to get tired of mowing their lawn should not take this mower into account.
You should note that a push mower works ideally in level lawns since it will be very exhausting to drive the machine up or down a hill.
A push mower makes the best choice for anyone apprehensive about the environmental impact of mowing their grass too.
Since it requires manpower, this type of mower does not generate emission and make no noise pollution like the typically powered lawnmowers.
Ride-On Type of Mower
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If your lawn is pretty big, selecting a ride-on mower can be a great option. This kind of lawnmower will help to reduce the time to cut grass.
Moreover, a ride-on mower makes mowing much easier and more enjoyable as well. When it comes to efficiency, this kit is far more advanced than a walk-along lawnmower too.
However, you should not expect to get a ride-on mower at a low cost since the luxury of this kit must come with a price tag to match.
Similar to walk-along mowers, they also come in a variety of types that you can check out below.
Rear Engine Riding Mower
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For those looking for a type of mower that works well in moderately sized lawns, this variant can be a good option. It makes a perfect choice between a lawn tractor and a walk-along one.
As the name suggests, the kit has a rear engine that sits under the driving seat and is commonly directed with a shift-on-the-go hand lever.
The hand knob typically comes with a continuously variable transmission. Meanwhile, it offers a single-cylinder powertrain that is ranging from 344 to 38 cc with approximately 10 to 11 horsepower.
This type of mower has a deck underneath the driver’s position. The size is typically ranging from 2.5 to 2.75 ft, making it appropriate for lawns that are no larger than two and a half acres in total.
Considering the size of the suitable lawn, good maintenance is necessary to keep your rear engine riding mower in perfect condition.
In case your lawn is bigger than 3 acres, consider getting types of mowers for tractor or zero-turn lawnmowers.
Lawn Tractor
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Most people may find a lawn tractor familiar and its front-mounted engine is something many will visualize when it comes to a ride-on mower.
If you have a large lawn with a deck ranging from between 3.5 to 4.5 ft, this type of mower is perfect.
You can determine the maximum size of the lawn the tractor can handle by dividing its deck width by 12. For instance, a 106-cm deck width will be appropriate for grasses of up to 4 acres.
In terms of engine size, this type of mower varies from 18 to 25 horsepower. While the more expensive models commonly feature twin cylinders, the entry-level ones offer a single cylinder.
A lever-operated gearbox is typically available in basic lawn tractors while more advanced models may feature a continuously variable transmission.
The price of lawn tractors generally ranges from $1,000 to $3,000, making them more affordable than other ride-on mowers.
It is a good all-rounder for wide lawns although this mower lacks maneuverability. You will find the kit struggle when turning around.
Besides, this type of mower may struggle to undertake obstacles too. As a result, you may discover patches of lawns that remain uncut when the kit has been incapable to get taut enough to a corner or a barrier.
Zero-Turn Mower
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Considered as the Ferrari’s of the mowing world, a zero-turn mower is a popular choice among many gardeners.
Its front seat homes lap bars that direct the machine and operate the dual hydrostatic gearbox at the back wheels.
Unlike other ride-on mowers, its design allows supreme maneuverability. You can count the kit to make sharp turns, pivot, and serve a perfect all-round trimming performance.
Moreover, a zero-turn mower is capable to get much nearer to obstacles compared to other ride-on lawnmowers.
Thus, you can count on this type of mower to cut securely against landscaped edges for a much better finish.
Thanks to its steering ability, you can get a more efficient mowing experience with this zero-turn mower, particularly on irregular-shaped lawns.
It commonly provides the simplest mowing with the capability to trim the most lawns more quickly.
The widths of zero-turn mowers’ deck typically vary from 81 to 152 cm while the powertrain sizes ranging between 452 and 700 ccs.
Depending on its specification and model, a zero-turn mower may cost around $1,000 to $6,000 in the market.
Power Types
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Diverse types of commercial lawn mowers may feature a different kind of power source. Then, your best choice should depend on a variety of conditions and preferences as well.
For example, if you need a reliable kit for small to medium-sized yards, an electric-powered mower can be a good choice.
This type of mower is pretty popular due to its various benefits including lightweight, easy to handle, and high maneuverability.
On the other hand, someone who puts environmental issues higher than anything else may love a manual-powered mower better than other types.
To learn further about the detail of each power type, let’s check the following information.
Manual-Powered Mower
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It is safe to say that a manual-powered lawnmower is a push mower. Although this kit comes with an engine, this only directs the blades and does not supply any force.
As a result, the users become the main source of energy with their muscle power, unlike a battery, gas, or electric-powered mower where the engine provides the momentum.
This type of mower is the most environmentally friendly. You can also expect an inexpensive price tag and quick performance when purchasing the kit.
However, remember that using this mower is the hardest since it requires a great amount of energy and strength to direct properly.
If you have a small lawn, buying a manual-powered mower still makes a good investment.
Gas-Powered Mower
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The engine of a gas-powered lawnmower uses petrol as its power source. This mower is ideal for mowing wide areas since it is not limited by a cable.
Compared to an electric mower, it can cut your lawn faster, so you can expect a shorter mowing time.
You can also count on a gas-powered mower to trim even thick, tall, or dense grass without any difficulty. It is simple to steer as well, making it pretty practical to maneuver around obstacles.
What makes it different is the fact that this type of mower feels much weightier and bigger as you operate the kit.
Meanwhile, the disadvantages of a gas-powered mower include pollution and high maintenance required.
It is very noisy and generally the most costly wall-along mower in the market. You need to prepare around $200 to $800 to get this lawnmower.
Battery-Powered Mower
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As the name suggests, this mower runs on a battery, typically, a lithium-ion one that is lightweight and lifelong.
With this lawnmower, you can expect to get all the benefits of electric mowers with no restraint of cable extent.
Since this mower is not connected to a power source, it is not impossible to use the kit in lawns of any size. However, its strength comes with a cost that is ranging more than $500 for the good quality one.
While it is more costly than an electric version, this mower provides excellent convenience and is much lighter compared to its gas counterpart.
Another disadvantage of a battery-powered lawnmower is its capacity to perform with no power source.
This type of mower typically runs for approximately an hour only before requiring a recharge. It can be pretty wearisome if you are in the middle of mowing when the battery is low.
Electric-Powered Mower
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You do not need to worry about running out of battery or gas when using an electric-powered mower. However, keep in mind that being connected to an electrical outlet is a must with this kit.
The price of an electric-powered mower is pretty reasonable as well since it starts at around $100 to $250.
Nevertheless, working with this mower requires you to be very careful since there is a cable following your machine that may get tangled sometimes.
In conclusion, the right type of mower for everyone can be different depending on their preferences and budgets. You can use the above information as a guide to picking your favorite!