Creating and maintaining a beautiful lawn is so much easier when you use the right tools. Picking the right tools is especially important when it comes to choosing the right lawn mower. There are several different types of lawn mowers, and each one has its benefits.

With so many mowers to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you?

Trying to figure out which lawn mower is best for you, your yard, and your budget can seem a little daunting. We can help you with that. This article will share the different types of lawn mowers and the styles that fall within each. 

Here’s what you should know about different types of lawn mowers and how to choose the right one for your needs. 

What are the Different Types of Lawn Mowers

1. Riding Mowers

Riding mowers are a landscaper’s best friend, especially if you have a large amount of lawn to manage. Under the ‘riding mower’ category, there are a few types of mowers that everyone should be familiar with. 

Zero-Turn Mowers

Zero-turn mowers are the cream of the crop when it comes to riding mowers. These mowers are steered with hand bars set at waist height, which might take some getting used to. But they offer amazing maneuverability and precision, allowing users to cut much closer to obstacles than other types of riding mowers. 

These mowers are great if you have a large area to cut, and they can make quick work of most types of grass. Zero-turn mowers are among the more expensive types of riding mowers, so renting one might be a good option if you aren’t ready for the large financial commitment.

Rear Engine Riding Mowers

These mowers have the traditional steering wheel in the front, engine in the back design that most people are familiar with. While they’re great at cutting lawns quickly, they aren’t as effective on lawns over 2.5 acres. 

Even moderately sized lawns can cause wear and tear if you’re often mowing, so regular maintenance is recommended with these mowers. This can add to your overall costs with these machines. You’ll need to allow for the cost of blade sharpening or replacement as well as engine maintenance at a minimum.

2. Push Mowers

If you only need to mow a small lawn, a push mower is ideal. Push mowers are small, relatively easy to store and transport if required and come with a range of convenience options. Here are the main types of push mowers you might find.

Cylinder (Reel) Mowers

These mowers are the simplest, lightest mowers on the market. A reel of scissoring blades inside a cylinder snip through blades of grass for a gentle, neat cut. Sounds great, but only if you have a flat lawn filled with soft grass.

Cylinder mowers are manually powered, meaning your push provides the power to cut the grass. Because the blades are difficult to access, this type of mower can be a pain to maintain. If you have a small, delicate green space to maintain, it might be for you, but otherwise, you might want to consider another option.

Rotary Mowers

Rotary mowers are powered, single-blade mowers that are great for smaller spaces. They’re also great for medium to slightly long grass, so if you’re one of those who tend to delay doing yard work, this type of mower might be for you.

Rotary mowers can either be self-propelled or manually propelled. The self-propelled versions pull the mower along, saving you the gruntwork. However, they can be more expensive than the manually-propelled versions, and they do require a bit more maintenance. 

Rotary push mowers are an excellent choice for smaller spaces or for anyone who needs to transport their mower from place to place easily. You can get larger or smaller deck sizes to suit the size yard you need to cut. And some even come with a handy bagger to collect the grass clippings, so you won’t have to do it manually.

3. Robotic/Automatic Mowers

These aren’t a practical option for most people, but they’re too fun not to list. Expensive and relatively new, these automated lawn mowers are generally small and sleek, which in itself can be problematic if you have a lot of grass to cut.

For most people, a lawn mower that you can operate with your phone is more of a fun toy than an actual lawn and garden tool, but if you have a flat lawn, lots of money to spend, and a penchant for high tech, it might be for you.

Choose Elephant Rental

Elephant Construction Solutions serves professionals and hobbyists alike with high-quality tools and equipment you need to get the job done. Located in the Rio Grande Valley, we offer construction equipment for rent, power tools for rent, power equipment rentals, saw rental, and concrete breaker rental, as well as other quality equipment and machinery, including air compressor rental, power generator rental, and even scaffolding. 

Reach out to us at Elephant Construction Solutions to get your free quote for any machinery your site may need. Whether it’s as simple as a lawnmower, as important as scaffolding, or as small as a nail gun, we have the rental tools and equipment you need to successfully finish your next project and stay under budget while doing it.