The Dobbies guide to lawn mowers
If you have a garden, a good-quality lawn mower is essential for maintaining the look of your lawn. Regardless of what size your garden is, keeping your grass neat and tidy can make all the difference to the overall appearance of your outdoors, whether it’s a small patch of grass in your front garden or a large space out the back. Regularly cutting your grass keeps it looking lush and healthy, as well as a safe area for any pets or little ones exploring outside.
Before buying a lawn mower, there are a few things you might want to consider. What machine is best suited to your garden? Do you simply want to cut your grass to keep it tidy, or do you want to design a perfect garden neighbours will envy? Choosing the right size and type of mower will save you hours of time and effort. Plus, knowing how your machine operates, and any maintenance you might need to carry out, is good to know before you make a purchase.
There are many kinds of mowers available, from ones that run on battery power to easy-to-control hover mowers. To help, we’ve pulled together a quick guide to the most common types of lawn mowers available on the market.
Walk behind lawn mowers
There are two types of common lawn mowers: walk behind mowers and ride on mowers. Ride on mowers are larger machines that the user sits on to drive and are usually only needed for very large land, such as pitches or parks. Therefore, walk behind lawn mowers are the ideal choice for the average gardener. These are the most common types of mowers you walk behind and push as you go.
There’s a great number of different features and varieties walk behind mowers have to offer. From cordless battery-powered machines to mains electric mowers, you're sure to find one that suits you and your garden’s needs.
Let’s look at all the versatile kinds of walk behind mowers there are on the market right now.
Push mowers
With a push lawn mower, the motor powers the blades while the user physically pushes the machine from behind to manoeuvre it around the garden. Push mowers are the go-tos for most gardeners as they’re lightweight and easy to push, making them great for smaller grassy areas. They’re also very cost-effective.
Self-propelled lawn mowers
These aren’t as commonly found on the market as push mowers, as they’re more expensive and require more maintenance. However, sometimes this can be worth it if your garden is very large. Self-propelled lawn mowers use power from the motor to drive them forwards, instead of having to push. This is handy as it means you need very little effort to guide them. As well as being easy to use, it makes cutting your grass a quicker job.
Electric-powered lawn mowers
As they’re the most efficient, electric lawn mowers are a popular entry-level choice for garden owners. They’re powered through a cable connected to mains electricity. All you have to do is plug them in and go! Many other advantages include that they’re lightweight, easy to handle, require minimal maintenance, are not too bulky in size, and will stay powered as long as you have electricity.
However, there are a few inconvenient disadvantages to electric-powered lawn mowers. They’re tethered to an electrical outlet, meaning if you have a garden longer than the power cable, then you won't be able to reach your entire garden! Therefore, it’s important to measure your garden and compare it with the length of the lawn mower cable. You also need to be careful to lift the power cable as you mow – you don’t want to accidentally run it over!
Battery-powered cordless mowers
Battery-powered mowers give you all the benefits of an electric mower without the restrictions of a power cable. They're powered from a rechargeable battery that you can recharge between uses and are convenient to use around gardens of any size. The only restrictions for battery mowers come from the run time – if you have a large garden, they might not be able to mow the whole lawn before running out of power. Additionally, their batteries may need replaced every few years. Battery powered lawn mowers are slightly more expensive than electric ones but are often worth it for the ease of use.
Hover lawn mowers
For an affordable lawn mower that gives great results, a hover mower is a perfect choice. They’re designed to sit a few inches off the ground on a cushion of air; therefore, they’re very easy to guide across your grass and manoeuvre around curves, obstacles, and slopes in your garden. They also give you more control around the edges of your lawn. The main disadvantages of hover mowers are they lack power, meaning if you have a larger, unkempt lawn, then you might struggle to navigate it, and you’ll likely need to regularly mow your grass to keep on top of it. Hover mowers are electric-powered and best suited to smaller lawns.
Four-wheel lawn mowers
Four-wheel lawn mowers are the most common and easiest to use. They’re especially good for grassy areas that are overgrown. They’re able to mow over uneven ground.
Rear roller
Unlike four-wheel mowers, these machines have two wheels at the front and a roller wheel at the back. Rear rollers are best suited to gardeners who like to keep a well-maintained lawn or those looking to create a striped pattern in their grass. As a rear roller moves, it flattens the blades of grass, which causes the traditional striped look. Rear rollers are great for cutting alongside borders with ease as the back roller provides support across the full width of the machine, preventing it from tipping.
Rotary mowers
This is the most common type of machinery, with a single horizontal blade that rotates at high speed, like a helicopter or blender! Rotary mowers cut medium to long grass on lawns or rough, overgrown patches, so you can leave it a bit longer between mowing sessions. Maintaining rotary mowers is incredibly easy, so it’s the perfect choice for an everyday gardener just looking to keep their lawn tidy.
Cylinder cut lawn mowers
These lawn mowers cut grass through several spiralled blades on a vertically rotating axis. They trap grass between two blades for a clean cut, not unlike scissors. The higher number of blades a cylinder lawn mower has, the more precise a cut it will give. Typically found on fine lawns. They work best on flat lawns, so it’s best to avoid using a cylinder lawn mower on uneven, rough or overgrown grass surfaces. Therefore, if you choose a cylinder mower, you’ll need to keep on top of mowing once or twice a week!
Cylinder mowers are also difficult to maintain. Their shape makes sharpening the blades tricky; therefore, they’ll need serviced frequently to keep them performing well. They’re also less adjustable than other types of lawn mowers, meaning you won’t be able to adjust the length of your grass. However, these kinds of mowers are very affordable, and they’ll help you make defined stripes on your lawn if that’s the look you’re looking to achieve.
What are the different types of blades on lawn mowers?
There are several types of lawn mower blades available depending on the kind of machine you choose. Here are the most common:
Cylinder: Also known as a reel blade, this is the type of blade you’ll find on a cylinder mower model. It's made up of several spiralled blades rotating on an axis, with a stationary knife cutting the grass against the blades, like scissors.
Standard: Used within rotary mowers and offers a solid cut.
Low lift: This blade is used in rotary lawn mowers and is suitable for sandy-soil gardens. They have long-term durability.
High lift: The opposite of low lift, high lift blades are designed to have a high level of suction. It can expertly suck up grass cuttings and bag them if needed. High lift blades work well on sturdy ground.
What height should I cut my grass?
Nearly all mowers will have adjustable cutting heights. This allows you to vary the cutting height throughout the season. For the first cut of the year, the cutting height should be set higher – around 4cm is perfect more most lawns. In warmer temperatures, where grass will be actively growing quickly, the cutting height should be lowered to create a neater effect. However, be careful not to adjust the setting too low – cutting grass too low can damage the grass roots and create bald patches. Keep your grass at a height of around 2.5cm. With newly laid lawns, wait until the grass is at least 5cm tall before mowing.
Choosing the lawn mower that’s right for your garden
The best lawn mower for you will depend on the size of your garden, the look you want to achieve, and your level of gardening expertise.
Lawn mowers for small gardens
With a small garden, you’re looking for something that’s cost-effective and simple to use. An electric mower or rotary mower like the Webb Electric 33cm Rotary Lawnmower is a great value electric-powered lawn mower with a 10m mains cable for freedom and flexibility. This allows you to cover more ground without worrying about battery life. It has 5 cutting heights so you can get a clean cut at any desired grass length, and once you’re finished mowing, the folding handling allows for space-saving easy storage.
If your small garden is slightly bigger, the Flymo SimpliGlide 300 (available in-store only) might be better suited for your needs. The hover mower glides across your grass and is highly manoeuvrable, meaning you don’t need to struggle around trees or planters. It has a powerful 1700W motor that can tackle dense, thick grass with ease.
Lawn mowers for medium – large gardens
For lawns on the larger side, a traditional rotary lawn mower is ideal. The Greenworks 48V Cordless Self-Propelled Lawnmower is versatile and easy to use, especially in medium gardens. Its self-propelled drive makes cutting easier, which is particularly useful if your garden is hilly. The i4-n-1 system allows for mulching, side discharge, rear bagging, or turbo leaf pick-up. Plus, its 8 different cutting heights allows you to customise the cut of your grass to suit your lawn.
For a professional finish without the hassle, we recommend the Webb WEER40RR Supreme lawn mower. This electric-powered lawn mower has a rear roller to create the traditional striped pattern in your lawn, enhancing the overall look of your garden, while also improving stability and control while mowing. With 6 adjustable cutting heights, this high-performance machine delivers exceptional cutting power to tackle even dense or overgrown grass while remaining lightweight. With an 18m long cable, you’ll get smooth handling and extended reach across your garden.
Other types of grass cutters
Once you’ve cut your grass, adding those finishing touches is key to perfecting the look of your garden. Garden trimmers and strimmers will help you reach hard-to-trim areas of your lawn, as well as neatening hedges and bushes. Trimmers and strimmers are also useful for tackling long grass before you mow it or trimming around your garden borders for a clean-looking edge. An edging iron is also a handy tool to have. It helps create definition in your garden, especially around pathways. Make sure your shed is fully stocked with every essential gardening tool – it’s these little things that make a world of difference to your garden’s appearance!
Now you know a little more about the different lawn mowers available, it’s time to choose your own! We have a great collection of value lawn mowers and gardening tools in-store and online.
Remember, a well maintained and fed lawn will create a better, more even lawn and make mowing much easier. Read our guide on looking after your lawn in spring which includes a wide range of lawn treatment options and a guide on when to cut your grass for the first time in the new year. Or, of course, you can speak to our Green Team in-store if you want to find out more.