Lawnmower Types – What are the Alternatives?
If you are looking to buy a new lawnmower then you will need to decide both which type to choose and the power source you prefer. The basic types to choose from include rotary lawnmowers, cylinder lawnmowers and hover lawnmowers. Power sources are electric, either corded or cordless and petrol. We’ll look at both the different types and the power sources to find out the advantages and disadvantages of each so that you can make an informed decision.
Rotary Lawnmowers have a motor which drives cutting blades that rotate through 360 degrees cutting the grass as they rotate. The action is similar to that of a scythe. For long grass and overgrown vegetation they can be very good as the slashing motion can cut down even the longest grass. Rotary mowers tend to be cheaper than cylinder mowers and often lighter with sometimes rear rollers and a collection box for the grass. The rear roller is used to make the familiar stripe on the lawn. One disadvantage of a rotary mower is that the grass may be unevenly cut as the grass is not held all in the same orientation and the slashing motion is uneven.
Cylinder mowers are based on the original lawnmower designs developed as long ago as the nineteenth century. A spinning blade is fixed above the cutting blade which is held in a horizontal position. As the cylinder spins it causes the grass onto the blade where is it sheared off. The cut is much more even than that produced by the rotary mower and the grass trimmed in a much more even fashion. For places where this is important such as golf courses or tennis courts this is the type of mower that is used. However there are some diadvantages to cylinder mowers as they tend to be heavier and they are more expensive. They may also be harder to use due to their heavier weight.
Hover mowers are very popular and are essentially the same as a rotary mower except they have a turbine which causes a downward draft of air giving the ‘hover’ effect. Hover lawnmowers are very good on uneven ground and slopes and are light and easy to manoeuver. They can also be used effectively on long or thick grass which some other mowers would not be able to tackle. They cannot be used to collect the grass clippings however so you may need to rake the grass after mowing and the cut they give is not as even as cylinder mowers.
Power Source
Lawnmowers can also be purchased with either petrol or electrical engines with corded or cordless alternatives. Electric lawnmowers are becoming increasingly popular as they are light, environmentally friendly and cheap er than gas mowers to run. If you don’t want the restraints of trailing a cord a cordless lawnmower is now a real alternative as the batteries have improved considerably in the past few years. Batteries now can be recharged in about an hour and can tackle quite a large area between recharges. Electric mowers are much easier to maintain than petrol mowers but if you want a riding mower or a lawn tractor, petrol mowers are generally the only choice.
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