Lawnmower Guide
A lawnmower is the most important garden equipment. You may be sure that you need one, but which one is often a trickier question. This guide will help you pick the right lawnmower. There are two basic categories of lawnmowers:
Reel Lawnmowers: These lawnmowers use blades on a revolving cylinder and can cut lawns shorter and cleaner than the rotary mowers. The grass clippings they leave are finer than all rotary mowers except the mulching ones.
Rotary Lawnmowers: They use a flat blade that turns at the speed of the engine. If you like leaving grass cuttings on the lawn, a rotary lawnmower is your pick. Some municipalities even ask you to leave them! Rotary lawnmowers are easier to use, maintain and repair. However, they do not give an even look like reel mowers.
Popular manufactuers include: Honda, Flymo, Mountfield, Black and Decker
Let us now deal with the various sub-categories:
Manual Reel Mowers: These are the least expensive and the most environment friendly. It is ideal for small lawns.
Rotary Push Mowers: These are the most common among all lawnmowers, the pick of smooth and flat lawns. The engines usually deliver five and a half horsepower units or more. Go for the biggest affordable engine, it would come in handy while cutting dense grass. The two types of starters are- push-button and pull. Get the one you are most comfortable with working.
Self-Propelled Rotary Power Mowers: These lawnmowers can be pulled up the slopes and deliver on uneven lawns with the help of large rear wheels. However, make sure the engine is powerful enough to take you up, incline, and cut the dense growth there. Look for a mower that is not faster than you can handle!
Self-Propelled Reel Mowers: These are among the most expensive lawnmowers. Buy one only if you own a golf course!
Riding mowers (Ride on): These are often the bulkiest among lawnmowers. You will probably need professional help to get started. They are suited for larger lawns.
Tip: Buy a lawnmower that is cut to the size of your lawn, the slope (if any), the kind of grass you want, your professional expertise and, of course, budget! Water your lawn in dry weather with a good hose pipe.
| 
