In England, there is a saying that the ideal lawn becomes only after 200 years of constant mowing. It is unlikely that our owners will wait so much time, because with proper care the lawn will certainly thank you with a thick and juicy coating in the next season. Grass is like hair: the more you cut it, the thicker it becomes. It remains only to choose the right "scissors". One should not even mention the old grandfather spit, because it cannot be achieved with a level lawn. Yes, and with the abundance of today's technology, few decide to get up on the dawn to wave the scythe until the dew drops. There is only one way left - to buy special equipment. In the store, the entire "hairdresser" tool is conditionally divided into 2 groups: gasoline and electric models. We will figure out how to choose a lawn mower taking into account the design features, the type of your site and the amount of upcoming work.
What types of lawn mowers are there?
The concept of "lawn mower" fits all the equipment that helps to deal with stormy vegetation. In fact, there are three options for such a tool: a trimmer, a brushcutter and the lawn mower itself. Each of them is intended for specific tasks.
The trimmer and the brushcutter are very similar in shape, so many sellers think these are synonymous words. Both tools have a rod, motor and cutting part. They work with both, putting on special straps on the shoulder and holding the equipment in their hands.
Now about the differences. Trimmers have less power and cut grass with a fishing line (cord). They are suitable for mowing grass and weeds under trees, for lawns with uneven terrain, etc.
Trimmers are light weight and cutting tools in the form of fishing line
Motokosa are more powerful and can cope with bushes, thick weeds, such as burdock or nettle, etc. Their cutting part is equipped with knives, although the fishing line can also be used. During operation, motokosa buzz more strongly and the load on the hands is more significant. But trimmers spend less gasoline.
Motor-scythes are more powerful than trimmers, and the cutting tool in them are knives
The most voluminous type of tool is a lawn mower. It is a trolley with a motor (or without it in mechanical models), which moves on wheels and cuts grass with knives. A man controls a tool with a pen. This option cannot be called the best lawn mower for a summer residence, because it is designed only for flat, well-groomed areas where there are no trees or bushes. This volumetric unit will not be able to cut grass close to them close by. One more minus - does not like stony sites.
The mower is designed for mowing grass on a flat surface without stones
Therefore, it is not bad if the farm will have both types of braids: a trimmer (or scythe) for hard-to-reach and hilly places and a lawn mower for flat areas. We have already examined the trimmers in more detail. Now let's try to figure out which lawn mower is better.
Compare gasoline and electric units
Criterion # 1 - power and noise level
Gasoline powered lawn mowers are significantly stronger than electric mowers. The second ones are powered from the network, which means that manufacturers cannot install too powerful electric motors, otherwise the 220 W network will not withstand the voltage. True, some models are additionally understaffed with a battery, but it is designed for up to 2 hours of operation.
But the weaker the motor, the quieter it works. Covering a section with a gasoline unit, you will feel what a roar of an engine is. No wonder headphones are included in the accessory kit for the most powerful lawnmowers.
When working with a mower, be sure to wear headphones to protect your hearing from loud noise
By the way, the maximum power in gasoline models can cause damage to the car. Imagine that you are mowing a plot with a medium-power scythe, and a pebble or bone brought by a dog accidentally falls under a knife. How does the engine react? Stalls! The stone is pulled out and calmly mowed on. If the same item manages to get under a powerful gasoline lawn mower, then the “horses” will have enough power to move jammed knives further. As a result, the cutting mechanism finally bends, causes the shaft to deform and breaks the bushings. The case "smacks of" overhaul!
For cottage needs, gasoline engines with 6-7 “horses” are quite enough, therefore, before choosing a gasoline mower with a higher power, think about whether you have any “pitfalls” in the area that will provoke such breakdowns.
When choosing a lawn mower, you should not chase high-powered engines, because they take a lot of gasoline and are difficult to drive
Criterion # 2 - Performance
Performance, of course, is tied to power. Large and medium-sized areas are easier to trim with gasoline models, because they can work for a long time without stopping. An electric motor cannot sustain this pace. They work for about 15 minutes, and then give rest to avoid overheating of the mechanism. Those. for the lawn in front of the house this capacity is enough, and for mowing 10 acres - hardly. In addition, before choosing an electric lawnmower, consider the distance of the site from the power source. The standard size of the unit cord is no more than 20 meters. And if you need to mow 50 meters from the outlet, then you have to buy more than 30 meters of extension cord. A good cable + automation + the cost of the mower itself = the price of a medium-power gasoline model. So is it worth it to “get attached” to the wired unit, if for this cost you can buy a “free, not on a leash horse".
The electric mower is attached to the network, therefore, in large areas it requires an additional cable
Criterion # 3 - Maintenance
But in terms of maintenance, electric models are much simpler. They do not require constant monitoring of the level of oil and gasoline, so for people who are poorly versed in the intricacies of pouring liquids into motors, it is better to buy an electric option.
Criterion # 4 - Security Level
If you analyze what it is worth choosing a lawn mower in terms of safety, then both options have their drawbacks. So, gasoline models are not encouraging with the amount of exhaust gases that one way or another will have to inhale the pigtail, especially when processing small areas. Electric units have no harmful emissions, but they can not be used in wet weather. In addition, in case of careless handling, there are cases when the cutting part runs into the cable and cut it, which can be dangerous. And yet, if according to the instructions mow only in rubber boots, it is more comfortable to work with an electric mower.
Criterion # 5 - unit weight
When choosing a gas mower, consider who will have to work with it. Due to the powerful motor, this unit has considerable weight, and it is harder to drive than an electric version. The load on the hands is large, which means that it will be difficult for women, adolescents and the elderly to work with such equipment. Electric models are more maneuverable, easier to operate and go smoother. Kosca can only direct the trolley in the right direction.
What to look for when buying a particular model?
If you have already decided which gas mower to prefer - gasoline or electric, pay attention to certain nuances that apply to both types of units when buying.
Availability and quality of grass catcher recovery
Many models are equipped with a grass catcher where vegetation cut by knives gets. The advantage of this device is that after mowing it is not necessary to additionally rake the grass, but you will have to stop the work periodically to clear a full bag.
In soft grass catchers it is easier to control the level of grass filling
Grass catchers are available in two versions: soft (from the net) and hard (from plastic). In soft ones, it is easier to control the filling level: as soon as the bag ceases to swell when air is supplied, it means that it is already full. Do not check the plastic container. But when mowing wet grass, the second option is definitely more convenient, because wet blades of grass stick to the walls of the net and clog it so much that you have to wash the bag after work, or even vacuum it.
Mulching function
Some lawnmowers have a tool that finely chop everything that gets inside and throws it in the form of mulch to feed the lawn. It seems to be a useful addition, but! A good mulch is obtained only when mowing absolutely dry soft grass. If you mow a wet lawn, then the mulching material is knocked into clods. Lumps scattered on the lawn clog the roots of the grass and prevent it from growing normally. As a result, "bald spots" may form on your lawn. In addition, excess mulch leads to the accumulation of so-called felt, which gradually rises higher and hinders the normal growth of grass. You will have to rake over the entire lawn to comb out the excess.
The mulching function is useful only to those owners who do not care about the quality of the lawn. This saves them from having to take out the mowed vegetation somewhere.
Side discharge of grass
This is a useful feature for places where you need to cut grass on the sidelines.
Front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive models (for gas mowers)
In gasoline units, there are two types of drive. The front is easier to manage. With this technique, you can turn around right on the spot, without turning off the motor. But when the grass catcher is full, or heavy grass (wet, tall), you will have to constantly push the mower to move it. Rear-wheel drive models practically do not skid, but in order to deploy them, the wheel drive lever must be turned off.
Front-wheel mowers are more maneuverable, but may skid when filling the grass box
Grass cutting height adjuster
If you have to deal with different areas, then this function is convenient, especially since no more than 3 minutes are spent on adjustment. In the event that the equipment will constantly mow the same section, the same height is usually set, which means that there is no point in overpaying for the regulator.
There are no identical opinions on how the best lawn mowers look. Any model can be a great helper in the household, if it was selected taking into account the above tips, and not just according to the brand of the manufacturer and price.
