Ride-on lawn mowers explained

Get to know what goes where so you can work out which features you need

Choosing the right mower for your garden

The key points to consider in relation to your own garden are manoeuvrability, especially angle of turn if there are lots of obstacles; cutting width (the amount cut in a single pass, which is a big influence on overall task time); and whether you want to collect clippings, mulch or discharge. Many mowers perform all three functions while others just mulch and/or discharge. Mulching works well on regularly-mown lawns as grass blades are cut into tiny pieces and ejected back down into the lawn to quickly rot down, saving lots of time on emptying a grass box. For mowing long grass, discharging is the easiest option. If you want a machine to do additional tasks, check you can fix the accessories you need to it. All are powered by petrol engines and so are relatively noisy, with a guaranteed maximum noise level of around 100 decibels. Mowers must not be driven on a public road unless covered by suitable insurance.

Choosing the right mower for you

Trialling a range of mowers all together really highlighted the importance of choosing a model that suits the individual user’s height and build, as the layout of controls, mower design and ease of use varied to a surprising degree. We strongly recommend trying out mowers rather than buying unseen, whilst bearing these key points in mind:

Getting on and off Ensure you can climb on and off the mower safely and easily. Seat adjustment Make sure the seat adjusts so you can clearly see and reach all the controls, without the pressure-sensitive contact breaker stopping the motor. Seat comfort The seat should be comfortable and give sufficient back support, especially if mowing for long periods. Holders for cups, lunchboxes and mobile phones boost comfort levels, too. Parking brake Using this could be an issue if bending down is a problem, as the release/ engage switch is low down on some models. Emptying grass collector The grass collector may be described as ‘empty from seat’. This has potential to cause back strain if done in a twisting position, particularly those with handles rather than telescopic levers. When in doubt, it’s safest to get off to do the emptying.

Seat Usually adjustable – some slide easily, others require a tool to adjust. A pressure-sensitive safety contact breaker switch underneath cuts the engine as soon as the user gets up. Grass collector Capacity can be from 150 to 360 litres. A greater size reduces task time as you'll make fewer stops to drive to the dump point. Empty using a telescopic lever or handles. Most have a buzzer alert when full. Pedals for driving and braking May be individual for forward/ reverse, or two pedals joined together. Most mowers are hydrostatic (automatic) transmission so motion should cease as soon as pedal is released. Parking brakes engage by pressing a brake pedal whilst engaging a separate lever or switch. Cutting deck Usually a single blade for lawn riders and doublebladed on tractors (see panel, right). It may extend beyond the wheels to cut over edges, and some models have ‘anti-scalp’ wheels to prevent grounding on bumps. The deck is engaged and height-adjusted via controls.