The Different Types Of Lawn Mowers

There is a huge selection of lawn mowers on the market, with a wide variety of sizes, types, and price ranges. There are lawn mowers for industrial lawn care and there are mowers for residential use. There are mowers that run on gas, mowers that run on electricity, and mowers that run on nothing but your own energy. So how to choose?

Here's a handy guide to the various types of lawn mowers.

Manual Mower
The traditional push mower was invented in 1830, and these continue to be classic and simple machines. The gears of the mower spin a reel of spiral-shaped blades which pass a stationary blade at the back of the mower. As the mower is pushed along, blades of grass are sliced between the blades.

Of course, these mowers are pretty labor-intensive, so they wouldn't be a good option for a large property. Manual mowers are increasing in popularity, however, as they are environmentally friendly, safe, reliable - and a good workout.

Walk-Behind Mower
These are the most common mowers you'll find. The rotary mower cuts grass with a large spinning, or "rotary" blade. The blade works something like a scythe, slicing off the tips of the grass as it passes. Rotary mowers work well on nearly every terrain, and are able to cut shorter grass as well as longer brush with minimal effort.

Walk-behind mowers can be powered by gas or by electricity. Electric mowers are the more environmentally friendly option, however they are a bit limited in power and in range (limited either to the length of your power cable or the length of the battery life).

There are also larger walk-behind mowers on the market now, intended specifically for professional use. These mowers carry powerful engines designed to handle large lawns and fields.

Riding Mower
Riding mowers take a lot of the work out of mowing, turning it from a chore into a go-kart ride for grown-ups. Riding mowers have powerful motors and can handle large landscapes.

Riding mowers are often designed so that the operator sits above the blade deck, with controls similar to those of a car. Lawn tractor mowers can also accommodate attachments, enabling it to handle devices like a snow plow, rototiller, or box scraper.

Zero-turn riding mowers are extremely efficient, and while they can't accommodate additions like a lawn tractor, they can move quickly and turn on a dime. They are excellent for maneuvering in tight spaces or getting around ornamental shrubbery in a garden. These riding mowers have the engine in the back and the mowing deck in front, making them extremely easy to operate.

Weed Whacker
Weed whackers go by many names, but whether you know them as edge trimmers, weed eaters, whipper snippers or weed whackers, their purpose is the same: cutting grass. A weed whacker has a simple motor that spins thin nylon wires at very high speeds. The wires slice through the grass as the weed whacker passes. Many models can also accommodate metal blade attachments to give them even more cutting power.

Weed whackers are generally used for detail work, like edging grass and trimming along hedges and pathways.

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