Glossary of Lawn Mower Terms and Definitions from GardenLines
More Information on the Lawn Mower Term:
Chassis
Collection Bag
Cordless Lawn Mowers
Cutting Deck
Cutting Width
Cylinder Lawn Mowers
Electric Lawn Mowers
Hand Lawn Mowers
Hover Lawn Mowers
Key Start Lawn Mowers
Lawn Scarifiers (Lawn Aerators)
Mulching Lawn Mowers
Push Lawn Mowers
Rear Roller
Rear Roller Lawn Mowers
Recycler Lawn Mowers
Ride On Lawn Mowers
Robotic Lawn Mowers
Rough Grass Cutters
Scalping (Lawn Scalping)
Self Propelled Lawn Mowers
Striped Lawn
Wheeled Rotary Lawn Mowers
Chassis (Lawn Mower Chassis, may also be referred to as the ‘cutting deck’):
This is the main ‘body’ of a lawn mower where the blades are housed. Depending on the material of your lawn mower chassis they can be prone to corrosion. Some lawn mower manufacturers offer anti-corrosion guarantees, but others don’t. To avoid corrosion of your lawn mower chassis there are anti-corrosion fluids/paints available to buy but these can be costly. Alternatively, to keep your lawn mower chassis rust-free ensure it is free from damp grass and is fully dry before covering, then make sure it stands on a dry surface when being stored. The lawn mower chassis material can also determine how heavy your lawn mower is. Typically a lawn mower chassis is made of steel but can also be made from aluminium which can be lightweight and less prone to corrosion.
Collection Bag:
This is the bag/compartment that your grass clippings will go into when mowing the lawn. The bigger the lawn mower collection bag, the more grass clippings can be collected which means it will need to be emptied less frequently which means you’ll get the lawn mowed in less time.
Cordless Lawn Mowers (Battery Powered Lawn Mowers):
A cordless lawn mower is a battery powered lawn mower. Consider how long it will take to cut your lawn before buying a battery-powered mower and see if the battery will go for as long as you need. Also consider how long the manufacturer states it takes for a battery to recharge. If you buy a battery powered/cordless lawn mower then consider having two batteries – one for the mower when it’s in use, the other can then be on charge. View our full range of cordless lawn mowers. Alternatively, a cordless lawn mower can come in the form of a push hand lawn mower. Many consider hand mowers to be out of date and old fashioned now. A hand lawn mower requires no electric or petrol power. You simply push the lawn mower and it cuts the lawn. These hand mowers are quiet and environmentally friendly and need no servicing. View our range of hand lawn mowers. View our range of hand lawn mowers.
Cutting Deck:
This is the main ‘body’ of a lawn mower where the blades are housed. Depending on the material of your lawn mower chassis they can be prone to corrosion. Some lawn mower manufacturers offer anti-corrosion guarantees, but others don’t. To avoid corrosion of your lawn mower chassis there are anti-corrosion fluids/paints available to buy but these can be costly. Alternatively, to keep your lawn mower chassis rust-free ensure it is free from damp grass and is fully dry before covering, then make sure it stands on a dry surface when being stored. The lawn mower chassis material can also determine how heavy your lawn mower is. Typically a lawn mower chassis is made of steel but can also be made from aluminium which can be lightweight and less prone to corrosion.
Cutting Width:
This is the width of lawn the mower will cut in one stripe. The wider the cutting width is the faster you will mow your lawn.
Cylinder Lawn Mowers:
Cylinder lawn mowers provide a scissor-like cut to your lawn. Typically these types of lawn mower are suited to lawns which require a fine finish and a short cut. View our full range of cylinder lawn mowers.
Electric Lawn Mowers:
Electric lawn mowers come in all shapes and designs including cylinder and hover lawn mowers. The main bugbear of an electric lawn mower is the cable. The distance between the plug and the furthest point away at which the lawn must be mowed needs to considered before buying an electric mower. Typically, electric mowers are cheaper than petrol their counterparts. View our range of electric lawn mowers.
Hand Lawn Mowers:
Many consider hand mowers to be out of date and old fashioned now. A hand lawn mower requires no electric or petrol power. You simply push the lawn mower and it cuts the lawn. These hand mowers are quiet and environmentally friendly and need no servicing. View our range of hand lawn mowers.
Hover Mowers:
Hover lawn mowers literally hover over the lawn. The rotating blades create a cushion of air over which you cut your lawn. They are typically lightweight and easy to store. They’re suited mostly to smaller gardens when a refined finish is not needed. View our range of hover lawn mowers.
Key Start Lawn Mowers:
An electric key start lawn mower does not require you to pull on a cord to get your mower going; it makes the mower starting process simple. View our range of electric key start lawn mowers.
Lawn Scarifiers(Lawn Aerators):
Lawn scarifiers and lawn aerators do the job of allowing air and water to reach grass roots. Lawn scarifiers remove moss and thatch build up from lawns. The build up of moss and thatch can suffocate your lawn preventing air, nutrients and water reaching its roots. A lawn aerator works by using hollow spikes which remove very small bits of soil as they leave the ground allowing air and/or moisture to reach the soil. These are commonly needed and used on well-used parts of the lawn. View our range of lawn scarifiers and lawn aerators.
Mulching Lawn Mowers (Also known as recycling mowers):
These mowers do not collect grass clippings, instead clippings are expelled onto the lawn as you mow. The clippings are very fine and act as compost for your lawn. A mulching/recycling lawn mower’s clippings are specifically designed to be left on the grass. The clippings from a regular lawn mower are bulky and need to be removed from your lawn to avoid any suffocation risks. View our range of mulching lawn mowers.
Push Lawn Mowers:
Push lawn mowers are mowers with no driving force provided by an engine. This is fine if a mower is not too heavy or if you don’t have too big an area to mow. Push lawn mowers can be quite big and petrol powered but they can also take the form of old fashioned hand mowers. These are typically smaller and lighter in weight, they require only man power to power them – no petrol or electric.
Rear Roller:
Instead of back wheels some mowers have a rear roller attached to them. This rear roller creates the striped lawn effect. View our range of petrol rear roller mowers or all rear roller lawn mowers.
Rear Roller Lawn Mowers:
These are lawn mowers that have rear rollers fitted to them. A rear roller creates a striped lawn effect. View our range of petrol rear roller mowers or all rear roller lawn mowers.
Recycler Lawn Mowers (also known as ‘mulching lawn mowers’):
These mowers do not collect grass clippings, instead clippings are expelled onto the lawn as you mow. The clippings are very fine and act as compost for your lawn. A mulching/recycling lawn mower’s clippings are specifically designed to be left on the grass. The clippings from a regular lawn mower are bulky and need to be removed from your lawn to avoid any suffocation risks. View our range of recycler lawn mowers.
Ride On Lawn Mowers (also known as ‘lawn tractors’):
Ride on lawn mowers are suited to people with very large areas of lawn to mow. These lawn mowers are driven (much like a car). They are typically expensive and trickier to maintain but these points do not outweigh the benefits of a ride on mower to those with big areas of lawn to maintain. View our range of ride on lawn mowers and lawn tractors
Robotic Lawn Mowers:
Robotic lawn mowers are great for the gadget lover. They require the owner to set up a border around the area which needs to be mowed. The robotic mower then cuts the grass within the designated area. They rely on battery power and can take some time to get the job done. Many dock themselves to a battery charging station of their own accord which eliminates much of the need for any human interaction at all. View our robotic lawn mowers.
Rough Grass Cutters:
These are a cross between a lawn mower and a strimmer. They are like wheeled strimmers and are used for tackling overgrown areas of land. View our rough grass cutters.
Scalping (Lawn Scalping, Scalped Lawn Edges):
Lawn scalping occurs when a lawn is cut much too short. This commonly happens at the edge of the lawn, particularly if your mower falls over the edge of a flower border. It can lead to thinning of the grass as well as grass discolouration – it also allows for easier weed takeovers.
Self Propelled Lawn Mowers:
A self propelled lawn mower is one that can ‘drive itself’ in essence. Pushing big, petrol lawn mowers around can be hard work, having a self propelled lawn mower takes a lot of the need to ‘push’ away from the user. View our range of self propelled lawn mowers.
Striped Lawn:
You need a lawn mower that presses onto the grass to achieve a striped lawn. You need either a rotary lawn mower or a cylinder lawn mower with a rear roller attached or built in. View our range of petrol rear roller mowers or all rear roller lawn mowers.
Wheeled Rotary Lawn Mowers:
The super-quick blades on these mowers act like scythes. They will suit lawns and even paddocks making them a popular lawn mower choice. A model with a rear roller will produce a striped lawn. View our petrol wheeled rotary lawn mowers.
For further lawn care and lawn mower articles why not view:
Annual Lawn Care Calendar from GardenLines
A Useful Guide to Buying Lawn Mowers
Winter Lawn Care Tips
Lawn Scarifying Guide
View our full range of lawn mowers, lawn mower accessories, lawn mower blades and lawn scarifiers.