When you think of grass, the first thing you probably think of is mowing. So we’re going to give you a brief run-down of the different types of lawn mowers that are available, what types of lawns they are useful for and some key tips to ensure you get the perfect cut.
Rotary
Most of us use a standard rotary lawn mower. It has spinning blades rotating on a vertical axis under a cutting deck. This deck can be adjusted up or down depending on the height we need to cut our lawn.
The blades chop at the grass as they rotate and work best on a medium to high cut. Rotary’s can be petrol or battery powered, with the battery versions increasing in popularity recently due to zero emissions and more advanced battery systems.
Newer models are able to generate nearly as much power as the petrol versions.
For larger areas, you have the option of stepping up to a ride-on lawn mower to get the job done quicker and easier.
Reel Mowers
But rotary mowers aren’t the only way to cut your lawn. The alternative cutting mechanism is a reel-based system like on a cylinder mower, which has blades that cut your grass on a horizontal axis.
There are petrol or battery-operated reel mowers, or push reel mowers which require a little extra grunt work as they are manually driven by human force only.
Reel mowers generally have somewhere between five and twelve exposed blades at the front of the mower that rotate around trapping and slicing the grass against a fixed bottom plate called a bed knife, much like a pair of scissors. The more blades there are, generally the better the cut and the lower you can go. This cutting action works best on a low or short cut and will struggle if the grass is too long.
When using a reel mower, you will need to mow more frequently, as many as 2-3 times a week during the growing season to ensure a nice clean cut.
So, which one cuts your lawn the best?
Reel mowers, cylinder mowers in particular, will have a better quality of cut due to the slicing ‘scissor’ action. This action is superior to that of of a rotary mower, when comparing both with sharp well-maintained blades.
Having said this, a rotary mower with sharp blades and decent power produces a good enough cut that most people would be happy with. The versatility that rotary mowers have over large lawns with more debris will generally make them more practical for most homeowners. If you are someone who enjoys regular mowing and a fine cut well-manicured lawn though, then a cylinder mower would be the go.
Automower
There are a few other options when it comes to lawn mowing options, but one that is particularly exciting is the robotic lawn mower – like the Husqvarna Automower.
Generally, these machines have sharp blades that spin and cut your lawn in a random pattern before returning to charge. These machines are a great way to maintain a perfectly manicured lawn without the effort that is required with a traditional push mower, they do the job for you!
Whichever lawn mower you have the basic principles for mowing correctly are as follows…
- Don’t allow it to get too long
Mowing regularly promotes lateral growth and allows more of the sun’s rays to get amongst the leaf of your lawn. Never cut more than 1/3 of the leaf blade of your lawn at any one time. If your lawn is out of control and needs a more severe cut, take it down over a few mows.
Mowing in different directions minimises monotony, it also contributes to a healthy lawn by encouraging the blades to grow straight. This in turn provides more space for new blades to grow.
- Don’t mow when the lawn is wet
Rain is great for fertilising, but not ideal for mowing. Mowing when the grass is wet can damage leaf blades as they tear rather than cut, leaving an uneven edge.
To get a beautiful cut, it’s important to keep your mower blades in peak condition.
It’s also important to understand the type of turf variety that you have as they do perform differently. The height that you mow one type of grass may not be ideal for another. Above all else, try and respond to your lawn specifically, as different conditions and lawn care programs can influence what height you can comfortably manage your lawn.
Guideline for ideal mowing heights
(Rule of thumb: shorter for summer, longer for winter)
Green couch: 5 to 30mm
Buffalo grass (Sir Walter): 30 to 50mm
Kikuyu: 30 to 50mm
Zoysia matrella (Sir Grange): 5 to uncut
Queensland blue couch: 5 to 30mm
Broadleaf carpet grass: 30 to 50mm
Hybrid Bermuda (TifTuf): 5 to 30mm
Fescue: 30 to 50mm
