Whether you’re simply looking to keep your garden under control or find yourself longing for the idyllic stripes in your turf, you’ll need the right lawnmower. But with a choice of power sources, selection of sizes, and variety of features, knowing which lawnmower is the right pick for you can be difficult.

In this guide to lawnmowers, we’ll provide the answers you’ll need to buy a new lawnmower with confidence. From knowing the typically run time of a battery-powered lawnmower to understanding the benefits of a mulching attachment, here is everything you need to know in a single guide.

Types of Lawnmowers

Lawnmowers are typically powered by either the mains, battery, or petrol. The right choice for you will depend upon the size of your garden, convenience you need, and quality of cut you want. Here’s a glimpse at the pros and cons of each:

Electric

Electric lawnmowers are powered by the mains, requiring you to be ‘plugged in’ at all times. As long as the cord (or extension cord) is long enough, this allows you to cut both small and medium gardens with minimal fuss. This is made easier by the quiet running, lightweight design, and ease of using most mains powered lawnmowers.

There are, however, some downsides to corded lawnmowers too. Firstly, they can be both hazardous and frustrating to use as you’ll be tugging a cord along with you. Secondly, they sometimes lack the necessary torque to achieve a ‘clean’ cut if you’re dealing with particularly overgrown or tough grass.

Cordless

An ideal option for small gardens, cordless lawnmowers are powered by a single or multiple Li-ion batteries. As well as being quiet and lightweight, these don’t require you to be nearby a plug or tug a cord along whilst trimming your grass. In many cases, such as with Karcher or Ryobi, their batteries can also be used in other garden tools.

But with this convenience comes a couple of drawbacks. Firstly, they can only be used for 15 – 30 minutes before needing a recharge in most cases. Secondly, to conserve battery they often provide less torque and may struggle with longer or tougher grass than other types of lawnmowers.

Petrol

As you may suspect, petrol lawnmowers have an engine that’s not dissimilar to those found on mopeds. This provides you with the convenience of a cordless lawnmower whilst being able to trim far larger lawns. Whilst a 2-stroke engine is less efficient than a 4-stroke engine, both will offer hours of use.

There are, however, some negatives to be aware of. Firstly, petrol powered lawnmowers are often far heavier due to them having a mostly metal build. Secondly, you will need to top up the engine oil, replace the air filter, and undertake other servicing regularly. The frequency of this will depend upon how regularly you use your lawnmower.

Size of Lawnmower

When buying a lawnmower, you’ll soon notice that you have a choice of ‘cutting width’. This is the width of the cutting path, which is determined by the diameter of the blade. Whilst you may assume that having a larger cutting width will allow you to trim your lawn quicker, this isn’t always true. Here’s some advice on choosing the right size for you:

Small Gardens

Any lawn that’s 100m2 or less is small. For a garden of this size, a lawnmower with a cutting width of between 30 – 34cm is ideal. This will provide you with the perfect combination of agility and speed.

Medium Gardens

If your lawn is between 101m2 – 300m2 it is a medium size. A lawnmower with a cutting width of 35 – 40cm will be perfect. The slightly larger cutting path will make keeping on top of your grass easier whilst still giving you ample moveability.

Large Gardens

Should you have a lawn that’s larger than 301m2, then it would be considered large. To make keeping your lawn tidy easy, you’ll want a lawnmower with a cutting width of at least 40cm. Whilst you may struggle with smaller areas or tight angles, this will cut plenty of grass on each run.  

Lawnmower Features

With both the power source and size covered, let’s consider some other features you’ll likely come across. Although often overlooked, these features could be the difference between a lawnmower that you love or loathe to use. Here are the features to keep an eye out for:

Self-propelled vs Hand-propelled

Although more costly, a self-propelled lawnmower makes keeping on top of larger gardens a breeze. They utilise their built-in motor to propel the wheels forward, eliminating the need for you to put as much energy into pushing your lawnmower along. Whilst this may not be necessary for electric lawnmowers that are built from lightweight plastic, it’s a handy feature on petrol lawnmowers that are constructed from heavy metal.  

Collection vs Mulching

When trimming your grass, you can either collect the clippings or choose to distribute them onto the grass. But to have this choice, you’ll need a lawnmower that has either an integrated mulcher or a mulcher attachment. Whilst collecting your clipping allows you to achieve a ‘cleaner’ finish, spreading these on your lawn will provide invaluable nutrients. Some also find that leaving the clippings on your grass prevents pesky weeds from being able to take hold as easily.

Electric Start

We’ve all got memories of our father battling with the starter rope on the family’s petrol lawnmower. Thankfully, a growing number are now available with ‘Electric Start’. This allows you to get the engine started with a push of a button or turn of a key, eliminating the need to use a recoil starter rope. If you’re a little unstable on your feet or simply want an easier mowing experience, this could be an essential feature.

Ready to Buy a New Lawnmower?

With your newfound know-how of lawnmower types, sizes, and features; you’re ready to pick the right lawnmower for your garden. You can explore our range of lawnmowers online or get in touch with our award-winning team for advice.