Beautiful weather is coming and that means enjoying the garden outside. It also means that you can work in the garden again. If you have a lawn, then mowing the lawn is one of the chores that you have to do regularly.

Mowing the lawn should not be annoying, as long as the tools are good. Are you ready for a new lawnmower but you doubt between purchasing a gasoline lawn mower or an electric mower, then read on. In this article we describe a number of characteristics and points of attention for lawn mowers so that you can make a good choice:

  • What aspects are important for a good lawnmower?
  • The advantages and disadvantages of a gasoline mower, an electric lawn mower, and an electric battery lawn mower.
  • A checklist for the annual maintenance of your lawnmower.
  • What fuel do you use for your gasoline lawn mower?

What aspects are important for a good lawnmower?

  • A good lawn mower has sharp blades that cut the grass accurately and evenly and has a mulching function.
  • It offers possibilities to adjust the cutting height.
  • It has a 4-stroke engine that ensures a good starting mechanism.
  • It has an emergency button to immediately turn the mower off when needed.
  • It is easy to store.

Gasoline lawn mower

The benefits of a gasoline lawn mower:

  • It is a powerful machine, ideal for lawns with an area of 400 m² and more.
  • Because of the larger rear wheels, these machines are very suitable for terrains that are less smooth and not leveled.
  • A gasoline mower has no power cable, so you don’t have to worry about tripping over it or accidentally cutting it and causing a short circuit.
  • You can easily reach places where there is no power supply.
  • For larger surfaces, these devices provide more convenience than an electric lawn mower.
  • Many gasoline mowers are equipped with a system for picking up fallen leaves, mowing slightly higher types of grass and weed corners and for mulching.

The disadvantages of a gasoline lawn mower:

  • A gasoline lawn mower is slightly more expensive than an electric lawn mower.
  • It needs more maintenance.
  • For a garden with many walls, ornaments, and small curves, gasoline lawn mowers are less suitable.
  • It is less environmentally friendly than an electric mower.

A solid and strong gasoline lawn mower is the MAKITA PLM4620N2. This mower cuts well, is compact, maneuverable and economical to use. Starting the engine is also simple and smooth. This mower is light and easy to use, but not self-pulling. An advantage of a pushing machine is that it does not affect the underground root system so that you retain very nice grass with healthy growth.

Electric lawn mower (with cord)

The benefits of an electric lawn mower:

  • Is most suitable for city gardens with many curves and ornaments and lawns up to approximately 800 m².
  • It is easy to use.
  • An electric mower is more environmentally friendly and quieter than a gasoline lawn mower.
  • It requires less maintenance.
  • It is usually cheaper to buy than a gasoline lawn mower.

The disadvantages of an electric lawn mower:

  • You need a power outlet in or near your garden or an extension cord.
  • You should always pay attention so you do not trip over or mow over the power cord.
  • Less suitable for uneven terrain.

An example of a good electric lawn mower is the MAKITA ELM4613. This mower is made out of durable material, has a handy size and is self-pulling, making mowing the lawn an easy job. In addition, this mower can be set to different cutting heights, has a good cutting width which is very useful for city gardens, has a mulching function and a double safety switch that prevents the machine from starting unexpectedly.

Electric cordless lawn mower

The benefits of an electric cordless lawn mower:

  • It is a machine that is ideal for small and medium-sized city gardens.
  • You do not have to deal with a power cable where you can trip over.
  • It requires relatively little maintenance.

The disadvantages of an electric cordless lawn mower:

  • It is more expensive to than an electric mower with a cord.
  • The charging of the battery is often limited, so you may not be able to mow the entire garden at once.
  • The machine is often heavier than other lawnmowers.
  • Often it has no self-pulling function.

An example of a good electric cordless lawn mower is the MAKITA DLM431Z. This lawn mower offers all the advantages of an electric mower, but without the annoying cable. It is easy to adjust to no less than 13 cutting heights, it is easy to store and it has double protection to prevent accidental start-up. This cordless mower uses two 18 V batteries and will have you enjoy a beautiful lawn after mowing.

How do you maintain a lawnmower?

To ensure that your lawn mower continues to work properly and to extend its life, regular maintenance is required. The end of the mowing season, when the lawn mower is not used for a few months, is a good time to have your lawn mower checked.

Checklist for annual maintenance of lawn mower

The following general maintenance tasks apply to all lawn mowers:

  • Read the user manual about the maintenance of the lawn mower.
  • Remove all grass and soil at the bottom of the machine. Clean the top of the lawn mower with green soap, dry it and wax it. This ensures that the lawn mower stays spotless and continues to perform well.
  • Sharpen and balance the blades. This requires special tools. That’s why it’s best to leave the sharpening and balancing of the blades to a professional.
  • For the blades, use WD-40 multi-spray to prevent rust.
  • If the lawn mower has a cord, check it regularly and replace it if it is damaged.

For gasoline lawn mowers, you should also perform the following maintenance tasks every year:

  • Disconnect or remove the spark plug. This is necessary to prevent the mower from being started accidentally during maintenance. We recommend that you replace the spark plug annually so that the mower can easily be restarted in the next mowing season.
  • Drain the fuel tank: run the mower engine until the remaining fuel is completely used up. Fill the tank in the spring with new gasoline. Old gasoline in the tank can prevent the lawnmower from starting.
  • Replace or top up the oil. Consult the manual for information about the disposal of the old oil and to see which oil is suitable for the device.
  • Clean or replace the air filter. Follow the user manual for instructions on changing the filter.

Maintenance tasks of an electric cordless lawn mower:

In addition to the general maintenance tasks for all lawn mowers, the next point of attention for a battery lawn mower is important.

Do not store the mower with an empty battery after the mowing season. Use the machine until the battery is completely empty and then fully charge it. While the mower has been stored for a few months, the battery will slowly drain. It is then good to top it up after 2 to 3 months.