At some stage in your life you’re going to have to buy a lawn mower. It’s one of those essential items every homeowner needs, like a fridge or a couch.

Here at Sunshine Coast Mowers, we take your needs for buying a lawn mower very seriously. And, there are a few questions we will need to ask before setting you off to mow your lawns.

You will need to consider whether you want a push or self-propelled mower. Push models are easier to maintain while self-propelled are easier to handle and have variable speed control to suit your walking pace.

Also, think about the size of the mower’s catcher. A bigger catcher box means you won’t have to empty grass clippings as often, especially if you have a larger lawn.

A big bugbear of many who choose the wrong mower is when the major controls are not close to hand or easy to see. For example, the engine control lever should be on the handle bar and easy to operate.

To help you make a few decisions we have broken the main points down, which will help you make the right choice when choosing the right mower for your needs.

Consider this: There is a big difference in a lawn mower needed to mow the backyard every weekend, to one required to mow an entire football field.

Hand mowers

Ideal for small, flat lawns, hand lawn mowers are inexpensive, easy to use, and better for the environment. Designs have come a long way, making them a convenient choice that won’t take up much storage space.

Petrol, electric or cordless mowers

Think about the size of your lawn. As a very, very general rule, for smaller lawns: 28-35cm cutting width, for a medium lawn: 35-40cm and for medium to larger lawns 40cm upwards, with widths of up to 105cm for ride-on mowers designed to cut very large lawns.

Ride-on mowers

For really big areas, like a paddock or oval, a ride-on mower will get the job done. They run on petrol and are a fast, comfortable way to mow. When choosing a ride-on, think about the turning circle, especially if you need to mow tighter areas. If you’re mowing uphill then choose an engine with a bit more horsepower.