Choosing A Mower

Types of lawn mowers

1. Cylinder mowers
Cylinder mowers are ideal for tending luxury lawns and golf greens. These mowers have a cylinder that carries a series of blades, these rotate as the mower is moved along. As they rotate, they cut the grass with a shearing action against a fixed cutting bar at the bottom of the mower.

2. Rotary mowers
Rotary mowers cut the grass with a set of rotating blades that spin at a set distance above the ground level. These mowers can be hover types that ride on a cushion of air or they can be supported on four wheels, but the cutting action is the same.

Size
The size of a lawn is determined by the width of the cut so the size of the mower you want will depend on the size of your lawn. Up to 60 square metres (75 square yards) can be cut using a hand pushed mower. A larger lawn needs a power mower:

300mm (12 inches) for a lawn 400 square metres (500 square yards)

350mm (14 inches) for a lawn 670 square metres (800 square yards)

400mm (16 inches) for a lawn 800 square metres (1000 square yards)

450mm (18 inches) for a lawn 1000 square metres (1200 square yards)

600mm (24 inches) for a lawn 1200 square metres (1500 square yards)

How is it to be powered?
Lawn mowers can be powered by electricity, by battery or by petrol. You need to think carefully about which type to choose but there is almost certainly one in the Focus Do It All range of lawn mowers that will suit your purpose.

Electric
Electric mowers are ideal for small lawns but you need an extension lead to the mower. If the garden is long and narrow, a standard lead may not reach to the end or, if there are a lot of trees or shrubs in the garden, it is easy to get the lead tangled around them. Don't forget, you must protect the lead with a safety plug (RCD).

Petrol
If you decide that the garden is the wrong design or too large for an electric mower then choose a petrol mower. Modern petrol engines are very reliable and should start very easily. The only other choice is whether you need the motor to drive the wheels or just the blades. If you have a large or sloping garden, it is easier if the mower is self-propelled. All you need to do is to walk behind the mower and turn it round at the end of the lawn.