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Despite a significant increase in sales of cordless machinery, petrol mowers remain a very definite favourite with a significant number of British gardeners. Image Credit: Author
Size Matters
Admittedly, it's something of a cliche. But as with many things in life, when it comes to choosing the ideal mower... size really does matter.
The size of a lawnmower is determined by its cutting width i.e. the width of the grass strip it cuts as it travels over the lawn. The actual, physical dimensions of the mower will be greater still.
As a rather obvious rule of thumb, the larger the lawn, the larger the machine you’ll require.
When it comes to specifying and choosing the ideal mower for your lawn, size really does matter. Image Credit: Lial;
The table below contains suggested mower sizes according to the size of the lawn and whether you're using a rotary mower, or a cylinder mower. Despite metric measurements having been introduced into the UK many decades ago, machine sizes today are still frequently described in inches. So, for ease of use, we’ve stated both Imperial measurements and their metric equivalents:
Suggested Cutting Widths For Rotary Lawn Mowers
| Lawn Size | Mower Size (inches) | Mower Size (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| <100m2 | <12" | <30cm |
| 100 - 250m2 | 12" - 13" | 30cm - 33cm |
| 250 - 500m2 | 13" - 14" | 34cm - 36cm |
| 500 - 750m2 | 14" - 16" | 37cm – 40cm |
| 750 - 1,000m2 | 16" - 17" | 41cm – 44cm |
| 1,000 - 1,500m2 | ≥18” | ≥ 45cm |
Beyond 1,500m2, a ride-on mower, robotic mower, or an extra-wide rotary mower, such as a Toro Timemaster is recommended.
It’s important to recognise that no two lawns and no two mowers are the same. So, an inch or so either way is unlikely to make a significant difference, to the overall cutting experience. So, if your garden has a complex design, you may wish to go a little smaller, for greater manoeuvrability. And if it’s a simple design, then you may wish to go a little larger, for a quicker cut.
Indeed, the author's mower is 2" larger than the optimal size suggested in the table above. But given he's tasked with maintaining a simple lawn with straight borders, it's the perfect balance between manoeuvrability and speed.
Suggested Cutting Widths For Cylinder Mowers
| Lawn Size | Mower Size (inches) | Mower Size (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| <100m2 | <12" | <30cm |
| 100 - 350m2 | 12" - 14" | 30cm - 36cm |
| 350 - 500m2 | 14" - 15" | 34cm - 38cm |
| 500 - 750m2 | 15" - 17" | 37cm – 43cm |
Other Considerations
As well as considering lawn size, there are other factors you should consider too. For instance:
- Will the mower have to pass through gates or doors to access the lawn? If so, check before you buy to ensure the mower can pass through unhindered;
- Where will the mower be stored, and Is there sufficient space? It’s important to consider the dimensions of the mower when it’s in its stored position and location, as well as in its operating position. At one time or another, almost every garden machinery has supplied a mower that's too large for a customer's shed or store;
- Are there any tight turns or confined spaces that must be negotiated on the lawn? If so, just how easily will you be able to manoeuvre the mower within these confines? Sometimes a slightly smaller machine can deliver a quicker, easier, and superior cut;
- Check grass collector capacity: For anyone determined to reduce the time it takes to cut their lawn – grass collector capacity, as well as cutting width, plays an important role in determining total cut time. You'd be surprised just how long it takes to empty a grass collector.
If you remain unsure as to the size of mower you require, why not ask a neighbour with a similarly sized garden? Alternatively, most specialist garden machinery resellers will have many decades experience helping customers choose their ideal mower. From experience, it’s always worth asking their advice before you buy.