A petrol-powered lawnmower is used to keep on top of lawn maintenance. From push, self-propelled and ride-on models to electric or recoil start, there's a petrol lawnmower to match every garden.
The most common type of petrol lawnmower for domestic use is a standard push lawnmower:
- these mowers offer a cutting width of 33 to 41 cm;
- they are equipped with a 100 cc engine;
- they are suitable for mowing flat land;
- they best for smaller gardens (200 to 600 m²).
Self-propelled models are designed to propel forward by themselves and are therefore suitable for sloping land and large gardens. Your choice of petrol mower ultimately comes down to the size of your lawn:
- a 100 cc engine with a cutting width of 33 to 41 cm will work fine for a garden measuring 200 to 600 m²;
- a 140 cc engine with a cutting width of 41 to 46 cm is best for medium-sized gardens of 600 to 1000 m²;
- a 190 cc engine and a cutting width of 48 to 55 cm will tackle areas measuring 1,000 to 2,500 m².
Ride-on petrol mowers are also available to maximise user comfort while mowing even larger areas. Ride-on mowers offer the following additional features:
- a comfortable seat;
- a steering wheel to guide the machine;
- a 200cc engine with a cutting width of 66 cm to mow large lawns (1,000 to 2,500 m²);
- an 400cc+ engine with a cutting width of over 70 cm for lawn tractors to deal with areas stretching 2,500 m² and over.
As with any machine with a petrol engine, there is some maintenance involved, including:
- checking oil level;
- changing the oil;
- cleaning the air filter;
- cleaning the spark plug.
Whichever petrol lawnmower you choose, look for features designed to enhance user comfort such as a mulching mode to save you gathering lawn clippings and electric start.
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