A huge part of the cottage area is often occupied by lawns. Many people have a question about how to put the lawn in order. In most cases, the best solution is to purchase a lawn mower. But making the right choice is difficult, since a modern manufacturer offers many varieties of such equipment.

Lawn mower classification

For many, the term "lawn mower" includes all the devices with which you can mow and tidy the lawn. But do not confuse the lawn mower and other devices used for similar purposes. Trimmers and brushcutters are often referred to as lawn mowers.

A lawn mower is a park and garden area that moves on wheels. It has an average size and power, which is enough for mowing grass on a flat area.

The trimmer is a device with less power and is carried by hand. It is designed for mowing grass in small areas of uneven terrain.

Lawn mower

A brushcutter, or petrol brush, is essentially a trimmer, but with more power. It is a more reliable device and is used for uneven areas of land with tall grass.

Important! Of all lawn mowers, a lawn mower is the best choice for level landscaping.

Differences based on how they work

When the question of buying such a device arises, it is important to understand how to choose a gasoline or electric lawn mower:

  1. An electric motor with no battery charging. They are characterized by low noise level, environmentally friendly, no refueling required. But a number of disadvantages can stop many. Devices without batteries are powered by the mains, which makes them difficult to use on wet grass. Such units are limited in power.
  2. Electric motor with battery. They differ from the previous versions in higher power. There are two additional disadvantages: the weight of the unit increases, the operating time without charging is limited from 15 to 30 minutes.
  3. Internal combustion engine is gasoline. Designed for intensive use, maneuverable, reliable, high performance. As disadvantages, there is a high noise level, heavy weight, the need to purchase fuel and lubricants and carry out regular maintenance.
  4. Mechanical lawn mower powered by human muscle. Advantages: complete efficiency, no extraneous noise during operation, can be used in any weather, no power source is required. Such a device requires more human effort. Recommended for use on small, flat areas with young grass.

Mechanical lawn mower

Drive types

Lawn mower types can be identified by the type of drive used:

  1. The front-wheel drive mid-travel lawnmower is easy to operate and maneuverable, but it can only be used on level surfaces.
  2. Self-propelled lawn mowers with rear wheel drive. Thanks to the large wheels, maneuverability is achieved on uneven surfaces and slopes. But they are not very maneuverable when cornering, you will need to stop, in some cases even raise.
  3. Four wheel drive lawn mowers. High power units, easy to descend from slopes. Despite their maneuverability, they are heavy and powerful.
  4. Devices without a drive. Very lightweight and economical.The use of such devices requires a lot of force, since you will need to roll it in front of you.

Features of the principle of operation

The types of lawn mowers can be distinguished according to the principle of operation:

  1. Cylindrical mechanism, which, according to the principle of operation, resembles the work of a combine. In this group, there are many models with a manual drive, as well as a part of devices with an electric one. These mechanisms guarantee the best possible mowing of the grass. As a minus, it should be noted the low power and difficulty of use for neglected areas.
  2. Rotary or drum mechanism. Represents a cutting disc that is mounted on a vertical rotating shaft. 1-2 pairs of spindle knives can be used. They are distinguished by their versatility, since they allow you to adjust the height of the knives, which makes it possible to use the device on hills and uneven terrain.
  3. Air bag. Designed to work on uneven surfaces. Easy to operate and maneuverable.

Hovercraft Lawn Mower

Power classification

  1. Low-power lawn mowers. The power of electric units does not exceed 1.5 kW, internal combustion engines - 2.5 l / s. Such devices are small in size and weight, ideal for use on flat areas. The downside is the small mowing strip (no more than 40 cm), so it takes more time to complete the mowing work. Suitable for removing young grass.
  2. Medium power units. For elliptical devices, the power parameter is in the range of 1.5-2 kW, for internal combustion engines - 2.5-6 l / s. Such devices are the best solution for small areas with slopes and slight irregularities. They do an excellent job with weeds with a thick stem. They have a higher price, as well as weight and dimensions.
  3. High power lawn mowers. ICE devices with a capacity above 6 l / s. Highly reliable units that run exclusively on gasoline are expensive.

Important! In gasoline models, the manufacturer makes the volume of the tank such that a single refueling is enough for a period of continuous operation. After that, a break is required to cool the device.

What to consider when choosing

When the question arises of how to choose a lawn mower, it is not only the technical specifications that should be considered. There are three factors that influence the choice:

  1. The composition of the mowed grass. This moment helps to choose the power. If you only need to mow the lawn, then a unit with a low power is enough. If you plan to use the unit for field grass and weeds, then the device should be taken more powerful.
  2. The choice of the lawn mower design determines the terrain. For even terrain with slight slopes and unevenness, you can select devices on wheels, for uneven areas with turns and slopes, you should take a unit that you can carry.
  3. Mowing area and the ability to connect to the mains. This determines, for a specific case, whether a gasoline or electric lawn mower is better. If the area is small and there is an electrical connection nearby, you can use an electric lawn mower. If it is not possible to connect to an outlet, as well as a large area, then you should take a gas mower. From here, everyone concludes which lawn mower is better: gasoline or electric.
  4. Mulching function. Before buying, you should think about where the cut grass will go. It is not very convenient to clean with a rake. Can be picked up with a built-in mulching function, the waste will later come in handy in the garden.

Important! It is equally important to pay attention to the cutting width. This will help determine the mowing time and the number of passes.

Top Models

Modern manufacturers offer a large selection of devices for cutting grass. Gardeners' advice and experience helped in compiling the list:

  1. Husqvarna 54. This is one of the best mechanical devices that does not come with an engine. The lawn mower is good at handling grass up to 25 cm.
  2. Bosch ARM 37 (0.600.8A6.201). Compact strong model, in which all working elements are hidden under the body. Power - 1.4 kW, which is enough even for removing thick grass, grass catcher - 40 liters, mowing width - 37 cm. Minus one - the limitation of the network cable.
  3. Robomow RS630. Maneuverable mower, which is very easy to operate, provided with mulching function, cutting height - from 20 to 80 cm. Battery powered.
  4. Makita PLM4620. Gasoline wheeled lawnmower with a tank volume of up to 60 liters. The mowing width is 46 cm, which allows you to quickly deal with lawns. The power of the device is 3.16 l / s. It features a robust design, as well as a body and deck made of steel.
  5. AL-KO 119011 Silver 470 BR Premium. Stylish powerful unit on 4 wheels, which has an output of 3.21 l / s. The grass-catcher has a volume of 70 liters and has a mulching function.

As you can see, despite the large selection of models, you can still find the perfect lawn mower for your summer cottage. True, when choosing, you need to take into account a large number of parameters and characteristics, so that grass harvesting becomes a pleasant moment.