Which Lawn Mower is Best?
Six settings on this AL-KO rotary
Infinite settings on this Atco
A more important difference!
Perhaps a more important difference between rotary mowers and cylinder mowers is the range and type of height adjustment. A quality cylinder lawnmower can ‘shave’ as close as 3/16” and can be raised up to about an inch without too much loss of mowing quality. A typical rotary lawnmower on the other hand won’t go much below 1/2” and can be raised up to perhaps 3” or even 4” without deterioration in cut.
The narrow range of height adjustment on a cylinder mower often means mowing at least twice a week in the growing season to keep within the 'one third rule'. This also enables the mower to work properly and cut the grass cleanly. For your information, bowling and golf greens are usually cut every one to two days in the playing season!
The one third rule: never remove more than one third of the grass lead on any one cut
The type of height adjustment is either on a screw thread (offering infinite positions) or lever action with set positions. The number of settings is important because it determines the change in cutting height from one setting to the next. The more settings generally means smaller changes in cutting height which may also improve the highest and lowest settings. A mower with five settings is good with seven settings being excellent. Ride ons can often have ten or more settings.
Now, the typical lawn with its surface imperfections, perhaps poor drainage, shade, trees and roots, kids and dogs, even if of superb quality, with lots of TLC will always be greener and healthier cut at or above 1”...........
This means using a rotary mower!
Once you start mowing below ¾” your lawn needs to be ultra level to prevent scalping and should be the very fine bristle like grasses. You also need to know what you are doing so, as far as Lawnsmith is concerned, cylinder mowers are for serious amateur gardeners and lawn enthusiasts; rotary mowers are for normal people!
