Cylinder Mowers or Reel Mowers as they are called in the USA are still available as a person-powered, push-model and although these may make a relaxing sound on a summer’s afternoon, the hard work involved in mowing a lawn larger than a ‘pocket handkerchief’ has led to the popularity of the gas powered (or petrol mower) or an electric mower.
If you are thinking of choosing a cylinder mower, you will find two things. First of all they are initially more expensive to buy than a comparable rotary mower and secondly, there are fewer models available in each price bracket. This reflects the fact that rotary mowers are generally the more popular choice for the family garden where children play and the ground may be uneven and bumpy. The cylinder mower is more popular with the purist who prizes a pristine lawn and the professionals who have to provide immaculately mown areas of grass on golf courses and bowling greens – although they are more likely to be using a ride on type to deal with the larger areas involved.
Powered mowers will usually have a grass collector attachment and may have a mulcher (that allows you to do without collecting the grass because it chops it very finely and spreads it back on the lawn as you mow). Usually, cylinder mowers have a heavy roller at the rear and it is this which produces the striped effect when you mow your lawn.
You can purchase rotary mowers with rollers but to be truthful, these do not produce as good a striped effect as the cylinder mowers. This is because the ‘scissor action’ of the cylinder mower is very different than the ‘chopping’ action of the rotary mower. Whereas with a cylinder model, all the grass is cut in the same direction, the rotating blades in a rotary model cut the grass in all directions. You may also find that if moss is a problem in your lawn, the heavy roller will prevent it from taking hold. You need quite a bit of time to keep your lawn in trim. With a rotary, you may only need to cut once a week, with a cylinder mower you will need to trim two or three times a week during the growing season.
Proper maintenance of the blades of your cylinder mower, keeping them properly ‘set’ (in alignment) and nicely sharpened, will ensure that the results you get will continue to give you pleasure for many years to come
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