Petrol Lawn mowers
For larger gardens that aren’t bordering on the size of a country estate most people opt to use a petrol powered lawn mower. These have the same practicality and convenience of an electric mower, both in terms of size, ease of use, ability to store and to a certain degree weight, whilst at the same time being far more powerful and versatile.
Like cordless electric lawn mowers, petrol mowers are capable of roaming anywhere uninhibited by a power cable, however the biggest advantage they have over battery mowers remains their ability to run for far longer, indeed if they do run out of fuel mid-session it is simply a case of refilling the fuel tank and continuing. With a battery mower you either need as second battery ready to go (an expensive investment) or you need to wait for the battery to recharge.
Just like electric mowers, petrol mowers also range from small to large in terms of cutting width, grass box capacity, and of course engine size and power. Typically the very smallest petrol lawn mower would be used on in a garden of around 100 square metres, with larger ones being used in gardens of several acres or more. You’ll need to carefully consider exactly what specifications you require, and what type of mowing experience you’re after, for example it’s no good buying a mower that has all the power in the world but only a very small grass collection box if the idea of forever having to empty it leaves you cold.
Petrol lawn mowers require more upkeep and maintenance to ensure that they continue to run smoothly and safely, and should you choose to buy one then you should know there are a few basic engine maintenance tasks that will need to be carried out every year. This includes:
· Replacing the spark plugs. These are the spark that keep the engine running and are prone to corrosion and failure over time. Knowing how to maintain and replace these is essential to keeping you mower running
· Cleaning the air filter is necessary to remove dust and dirt that accumulates over time
· Emptying the fuel tank, needs to be done at the end of the summer when you put the mower away for the winter as old fuel can ultimately damage the engine.
Check out this more in depth guide for lawn mower maintenance.
For the weak or elderly, petrol lawn mowers aren't necessarily the best option as besides being far heavier to move around thanks to the weight of the engine, they typically also use an engine starter cable to get started, and this can be quite tricky for some. Of course this isn’t always the case, and these days there are many models that feature an electric starter motor which means you can get going at the start of a button.
Like cordless electric lawn mowers, petrol mowers are capable of roaming anywhere uninhibited by a power cable, however the biggest advantage they have over battery mowers remains their ability to run for far longer, indeed if they do run out of fuel mid-session it is simply a case of refilling the fuel tank and continuing. With a battery mower you either need as second battery ready to go (an expensive investment) or you need to wait for the battery to recharge.
Just like electric mowers, petrol mowers also range from small to large in terms of cutting width, grass box capacity, and of course engine size and power. Typically the very smallest petrol lawn mower would be used on in a garden of around 100 square metres, with larger ones being used in gardens of several acres or more. You’ll need to carefully consider exactly what specifications you require, and what type of mowing experience you’re after, for example it’s no good buying a mower that has all the power in the world but only a very small grass collection box if the idea of forever having to empty it leaves you cold.
Petrol lawn mowers require more upkeep and maintenance to ensure that they continue to run smoothly and safely, and should you choose to buy one then you should know there are a few basic engine maintenance tasks that will need to be carried out every year. This includes:
· Replacing the spark plugs. These are the spark that keep the engine running and are prone to corrosion and failure over time. Knowing how to maintain and replace these is essential to keeping you mower running
· Cleaning the air filter is necessary to remove dust and dirt that accumulates over time
· Emptying the fuel tank, needs to be done at the end of the summer when you put the mower away for the winter as old fuel can ultimately damage the engine.
Check out this more in depth guide for lawn mower maintenance.
For the weak or elderly, petrol lawn mowers aren't necessarily the best option as besides being far heavier to move around thanks to the weight of the engine, they typically also use an engine starter cable to get started, and this can be quite tricky for some. Of course this isn’t always the case, and these days there are many models that feature an electric starter motor which means you can get going at the start of a button.