The moment to get yourself a proper lawnmower has finally arrived – and left you completely confused because you have no idea which one suits your needs best.
Whether you are a complete beginner or simply want to check all the options, we’re here with a list of 7 types of lawnmowers and the basic information you should know before making the final decision.
So, what are the basic types of lawnmowers?
Table of Contents
1. Gas-powered Mowers
Gas-powered mowers showed up in the 20th century, but not everyone was thrilled with the new invention. Many people preferred manual reel mowers which are still popular today.
Still, if you compare these two, you’ll see that manual reel mowers require much more physical effort to do the work.
On the other hand, gas-powered mowers cut lawn with more ease, especially when it comes to tougher grass.
You don’t have a cord that will limit its mobility, and, unlike electric mowers, you can cut larger lawns without having to charge a battery every now and then.
| Type | Gas-Powered Mower |
| Pro | More durable than electric Only need a little bit of gas to go a long way across your lawn Can easily cut through tough grass |
| Con | Cost more than a manual reel mower| Much louder and heavier than electric models Not good for the environment because of the carbon monoxide and dioxide emissions Require engine maintenance on a regular basis |
| Price Range | $ – $$ |
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2. Manual Reel Mowers
Manual Reel Mowers were actually the first lawnmowers that showed up on the market hundreds of years ago.
This model is quite simple and easy to use; its wheels spin sharpened blades or a cylinder as you push it across the grass.
Their entire design is based on a rather small cart that has a longer handle.
Most of these have two primary wheels that go on a single axle.
Additionally, there is either a set of secondary wheels in the rear that are a bit smaller than the primary set or a simple bar of rollers.
Primary wheels are in charge of the motion, while the rear roller/wheels are there for the balance.
You don’t need gas for them which makes them environmentally friendly – plus, they are easy to maintain.
Some mower types like electric or gas-powered ones have evolved over time, but the reel mower has kept its basic design.
| Type | Manual Reel Mower |
| Pro | Good price Less dangerous than rotary mowers Produce little noise Easy to store or transport |
| Con | Not very good for cutting taller grass or shredding leaves |
| Price Range | $ |
3. Riding lawn mowers
Riding lawn mowers are something that will make cutting your lawn much easier, especially when you need to cut a bigger lot of land.
They are like cars, so their advantage is you don’t need to put as much physical exertion into getting the job done.
By choosing a high-quality and more expensive model, you’ll get a pretty comfortable seat together with the optional umbrella coverage that will protect you from the sun.
Since these mowers are bigger and more powerful, it will be easier for you to cut grass on rough terrains.
Together with that, they often have specific add-ons that will help you with spreading grass seed, removing dead grass, or even plowing snow.
| Type | Riding Lawn Mower |
| Pro | Cover more land more quickly Often include specific add-ons |
| Con | Big, expensive, and more complicated than push mowers Harder to clean |
| Price Range | $$$ |
4. Electric Mowers
There are two variations of electric mowers – cordless and corded.
They are simple to use since you don’t need to change oil or fuel filters.
These mowers are also a good choice when it comes to the environment as well as they come as a much quieter option than classical gas mowers.
Still, as with all other models, not everything is perfect; with cordless lawnmowers, you won’t have that much time to cut your grass since some of them last only up to one hour before they need to be charged again.
On the other hand, if you go with a corded one, you will have limited mobility.
In addition to that, you need to be careful and keep it away from the water.
| Type | Electric Mower |
| Pro | No fuel filters, oil, or sparkplugs to change Quiet Better for the environment |
| Con | Not good with thicker grass Both corded and cordless models have limits (mobility, time) |
| Price Range | $ – $$ |
5. Self-propelled model
The self-propelled model actually does all the hard work itself – considering most of today’s mowers are self-propelled, we can assume cutting your lawn doesn’t have to be that hard after all.
You don’t have to use force to push it – it’s enough to walk behind it.
As a matter of fact, self-propelling motion implies the cut will be smoother and the finish will be more even since there won’t be that much stopping and starting over as well as pulling and pushing your mower.
Since there is a battery, you won’t struggle with a wire being dragged across the garden.
It’s definitely better to use this model for bigger and square-shaped lawns.
Also, it’s good for elderly people since they don’t need to push the mower too hard.
It’s better for the people that are not steady on their feet to go for a push-style model in order to control the movement speed better.
| Type | Self-propelled Mower |
| Pro | Don’t require much physical force Suitable for elderly |
| Con | Not good for non-square yards because covering corners may require fighting against the drive of this mower’s wheels |
| Price Range | $$ |
6. Zero-turn Lawnmowers
Zero-turn lawnmowers are true timesavers, especially if you have a big lawn that takes forever to mow.
Unlike the tractor mower, with this one, you won’t miss important sections under the trees or close to other obstacles.
With the zero-turn model, you will be able to penetrate all those hidden corners of your yard.
To be precise, we are talking about a riding mower whose turning radius is effectively zero – with plenty of different types and various hydraulic speed control.
| Type | Zero-turn Mower |
| Pro | Versatile, comfortable, and easy to use Shorten mowing time Provide more maneuverability |
| Con | Expensive Difficult to go uphill and mow when the terrain is wet |
| Price Range | $$$ |
7. Brush Cutters
Brush cutters are quite similar to line trimmers.
One of the differences is that the trimmer actually has a kind of thin nylon that cuts long grass, while the brush cutter comes with a metal blade that can even carve tree trunks up to whole 4 inches making them much more effective.
Not only do these cutters have more power, but they also come as a quite versatile tool in the yard.
Another important thing is, even though they are not difficult to use, you need to be familiar with the cutting techniques to prevent damaging your machine and to avoid potential injuries.
While doing the work, you need to move right to left because of the blades – they move counterclockwise so you can’t do the cutting from an undecided direction.
| Type | Brush Cutters |
| Pro | Quite versatile Efficient |
| Con | Risky to use if you are not familiar with cutting techniques |
| Price Range | $ |
Some final words
Each yard requires a different type of care as well as a specific lawnmowing model.
You need to know the various options so you can choose what will suit you best.
If you have any more lawnmowing-related questions, don’t hesitate to ask – we are glad to help you with getting the right model that will make the most out of your lawn!
Resources:
- https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/lawn-garden/a26431726/types-of-lawn-mower/
- https://www.bestlawnmower.reviews/beginners-guide-lawn-mowers/
- https://www.thespruce.com/reel-mowers-review-2130983
- https://lazyhomesteader.com/2012/04/24/pros-and-cons-of-a-push-reel-mower/
- https://home.howstuffworks.com/reel-mower.htm
- https://connect2local.com/l/115586/c/201801/what-are-the-pros-cons-of-a-riding-lawn-mower
- https://www.quickenloans.com/blog/pros-cons-electric-gas-lawn-mowers
- https://www.garden4less.co.uk/article/self-propelled-lawn-mowers
- https://www.gardentoolexpert.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-a-zero-turn-mower/
- https://medium.com/@davies.kkarl/pros-and-cons-of-brushcutters-7400949bac4a
- https://thecostguys.com/garden/lawn-mower