Guide: Buying a lawn mower and edge trimmer – Choose the right model

Regardless of how beautiful flower beds you have, the garden immediately becomes more appealing and tidy when the lawn is freshly cut and the edges are well-groomed. This task is easiest performed with the help of a lawn mower and an edge trimmer - provided that you have chosen models that fit your garden perfectly.

Let's start by looking at the different types of lawnmowers you can choose from. If you have a really large lawn - larger than 2500 square meters - a robotic lawnmower or a riding mower is often a good choice. It takes time to mow such large areas with more manual models. Whether you choose one or the other depends on your budget, terrain, soil conditions, and how much time you want to spend mowing. Some people choose a riding mower in order to be able to tow a trailer or remove snow; some larger models have this capability. On a slightly smaller lawn, most people choose between a robotic lawnmower or a regular push mower - in some cases even a good old-fashioned reel mower. Budget often plays a big role in the decision, but the complexity of the lawn area (whether there are many slopes, depressions, roots, etc.), the size of the lawn, and how much fun - or boring - you find mowing the lawn also come into play.

A robotic lawn mower takes care of the lawn without you needing to get involved, at least once you have it set up. You schedule a mowing scheme, and it then mows according to that. There are both wireless robotic lawn mowers and robotic lawn mowers that use a sensor wire in the lawn as a sort of boundary. Wireless models require clear line of sight around the lawn, for example, there should not be tall trees or buildings that disrupt the signal.

The traditional lawn mower is operated manually while walking around. Some are self-propelled and move forward (and backward) on their own, so all you need to do is steer, while others require you to push them forward with your own force. With such a lawn mower, you can cut the grass as needed. They come in gasoline-powered, battery-powered, or electric models. A gasoline-powered lawn mower is well-suited for larger gardens, it is a reliable and simple solution that does not require you to remember to charge the battery. A battery-powered lawn mower does not produce dangerous emissions, and it weighs and makes much less noise. However, the battery life is limited, so you need to remember to charge it. Battery-powered models can be a good choice for medium-sized gardens. Electric models are connected to an outlet. You often get a lot of performance for the money, but limited range, and you need access to an outlet near the lawn. Electric models are therefore best suited for small gardens.

This is a lawn mower that you sit on and drive. It is suitable for large areas where regular lawn mowers simply become too time-consuming and strenuous to use. There are both battery-powered ride-on mowers and petrol-powered ones, and just like with regular lawn mowers, the price, environmental aspects, and performance vary in relation to area capacity. Check out our selection of lawn mowers.

If you have decided to cut the grass yourself and therefore do not need a robot lawn mower, you must consider how often you will mow. If you often let the grass grow for a while between mowings, you will need a mower with a more powerful engine. If the lawn has slopes and slightly uneven terrain, or if physical shape is a bit reduced, it is well worth choosing a mower with wheel drive so that you do not have to push the mower with your own muscle power.If you know that you often adjust the cutting height, it may be wise to choose a model with simple height adjustment. Some models have central cutting height adjustment, where you can adjust everything with one hand movement, while others require 2-4 adjustment points - on some models, you have to adjust the height on each wheel individually.Another important thing to consider is what the mower does with the cut grass. Mulching mowers have a mulching function, where the blade cuts the grass into multiple parts, so that it becomes very small clippings that then sink into the lawn and become nutrients. Another type of mower has a collector, where the grass is collected in a rear-mounted basket that you can then empty into compost. Combination mowers have both mulching and collecting functions, so you can choose the function you want. The simplest model has only side discharge, where the grass is pushed out to the side as you mow, and then you have to rake it together.

In addition to a lawn mower, a lawn edger or grass trimmer is a good helper to keep the garden in check. With a lawn edger, you can trim in uneven terrain where there are stones and other objects that could damage the lawn mower. A lawn edger can be battery-powered or electric, the latter requiring you to plug it into an outlet (and make sure to maneuver the cord). A gasoline-powered lawn edger or grass trimmer is a more powerful option, usually more of a brush cutter than a pure lawn edger. Lawn edgers with power cords have the advantage of often providing acceptable performance at a relatively low price. The downside, of course, is that you are limited by the cord and need access to a power outlet. This may be sufficient for small areas near the house, but if you have a large garden or a driveway to cut, it is usually best to choose a battery-powered lawn edger. Grass trimmers/lawn edgers for different needs,Simple conditions and small areas If you only need to trim the edges of a small lawn and around a couple of flower beds, a simple 18-volt model is usually sufficient. These models can usually adjust the cutting head, making it easier to trim grass on slopes. Medium-sized and demanding conditions If you have slightly larger areas to trim and tougher vegetation like raspberry bushes, thick clumps of grass, meadow grass, weeds, and the like, it may be wise to choose a slightly more powerful model in the 36-volt class or higher. These models may not be able to adjust the cutting head, but they usually have a more powerful motor, and with a larger battery, you can work for longer before it runs out. Some models also come with an eco-mode and the ability to change the rotation direction to remove stuck weeds. Demanding conditions and large areas If you need to clear areas with a lot of branches and dense vegetation or large meadows, areas with ditches and brush, you may need a brush cutter instead. These not only have trimmer line but also a brush knife or steel blade. Sometimes you can also attach a saw blade to them.