You can purchase a robotic lawn mower to make your work easier, as maintaining a well-kept lawn requires a lot of effort. Not only does a neat and well-groomed lawn add to the curb appeal of your home, but it also gives you a great view from the windows and patio.
Making your lawn look good requires the right tools, though, and the most important one is probably the lawnmower. The lawnmower has become an indispensable item of many homes and many public parks who want to maintain the proper yard and lawn care.
However, have you ever stopped to wonder just who came up with the brilliant idea of a machine that will cut our grass so smoothly and efficiently? In order to understand the background of that indispensable machine, let’s check out the interesting facts about the lawn mower. You can also buy high-quality used lawn mowers here.
Battery-Powered Options
Battery-powered motors were introduced in order to reduce air pollution. They have become a more practical choice, especially for environmentally-conscious users. When you buy such a model, they usually come with the batteries installed. The batteries are rechargeable for the most part, so you have a convenient and pollution-free choice here.
When you start up this mower, you’re not using any gas as fuel. As a result, it’s not going to release any smoke into the environment. One additional bonus here is the lack of noise pollution, as such mowers also have a quieter operation than gas options.
Residential Mowers
Residential mowers are also known as ride-on mowers, which are large contraptions that you sit on to operate. Some lawn mowers are pushed or towed, but the riding mower or the “ride-on” mower is mounted by the user. These usually have a seat at the top, as well as some sort of steering wheel and ignition. It’s like a little cart that you ride around on to mow your lawn!
Obviously, riding mowers are definitely bigger than pushed-on mowers and they look almost like small tractors. The effort required to operate and maneuver such mowers is considerably less than a manual option that you actually have to push. However, riding mowers do take some skill and expertise in order to get the job done properly.
These are also an expensive choice, so they’re mostly meant for people with very large lawns or even for mowing public parks. If you can’t afford a mower like this on your own, you can probably rent one or borrow it from a neighbor.
Robotic Lawn Mower
With technology advancing at a rapid pace, it was only a matter of time before the first robotic lawn mower came along. This happened back in 1995 when the first solar-powered robotic lawn mower was introduced and available for purchase.
The robotic lawn mower cuts the grass by itself, meaning that one can sit back and relax while the lawn is being maintained. However, the user is required to put up wire borders in order to determine which particular area is to be mowed. This might be a bit of a bother, especially if you have to take the fences down and put them up every single time.
Most of these lawn mowers return to their own docks by themselves. Since they’re solar powered, you don’t have to worry about changing the batteries every few months. OF course, this is also one of the most environmentally-friendly options.
The Victa Lawn Mower
The Victa lawn mower is a rotary mower which was first commercially produced by the Australian company ‘Victa’ in 1952. It was invented by Mervyn Victor Robinson, who had created it from garage scraps. Needless to say, these lawn mowers became successful, with many models today copying the say rotary motor design.
The Non-Motorized Multiple Blade Reel Push Mower
If you want to make your lawn mowing experience noise-free and absolutely eco-friendly, try the non-motorized multiple blade reel push mower. Since it has no engine and carries no batteries, the non-motorized push mower is definitely lighter than many other available options.
This particular kind of lawn mower has two pairs of wheels with the bigger ones at the front and the smaller ones trailing behind. The construction will help you to move the mower with ease but without making much noise at all. This is because the blades will do all the work in snipping the grass silently. As there’s no motor, there would be no noise pollution or air pollution created by this option.
The Automower Solar Hybrid
Automotive solar hybrids are robotic lawn mowers that run on both electricity and solar power. One currently available model of this kind is the Husqvarna’s 2008 version of its Automower series.
This kind of mower is obviously a convenient option, as it gives you the opportunity to mow your lawn even if you don’t have a certain power source. The electricity option will come in handy when the solar batteries are drained and there’s not enough sunlight to recharge them. Some people might choose to rely mostly on the solar option in order to use renewable and eco-friendly energy.
Commercial Lawn Mowers
Many developments in the lawn mower took place in the early 20th century. In 1914, the first gas-powered lawn mowers were first commercially produced by Ideal Power Mower Co. in Lansing, Michigan, USA.
In 1922, Ideal Power also introduced the “Triplex,” which was a self-propelled, ride-on mower. It was actually the first of its kind in the whole world, as far as we know. The roller-drive mower has remained much the same since the 1930s.
Cordless and Rechargeable Mowers
The cordless and rechargeable rotary lawn mowers also have a ‘mulch mode’ in many models. “Mulch” in lawn mowing means leaving the clipped grass in the soil surface, instead of putting them in a bag. Mulching is a great option, as the clipped grass is broken down by the microorganisms in the soil. After this, nutrients from the mulched grass are released into the soil. This means you get a free and easy fertilizer as you’re mowing.
The First Gasoline-Powered Lawn Mower
By the 1900s, gas-powered lawn mowers had won over several consumers. The British company Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies began to introduce their own gas-powered lawn mowers in 1902 and lorded over the lawn mower market until the outbreak of World War I. After this, fuel was regarded more or less as a luxury during the war, as were lawns themselves.
However, gas mowers do tend to create a lot of noise and release a lot of pollution into the atmosphere as well. They also use a non-renewable energy source, which is why they’re not really an eco-friendly choice. Still, such mowers are preferred by many lawn enthusiasts due to their cutting power, efficiency, and durability.
The First Ever Lawn Mower
The first even lawn mower was invented in Thrupp, Gloucestershire, England, by Edward Beard Budding. He had been looking for ways to cut the grass in expansive gardens faster and more efficiently than the scythe. The latter is a grass-cutting tool that’s’ mostly operated by hand.
The Horse-Drawn Lawn Mower
Towards the end of the 19th century, people found it a chore to push the mower around their yards and lawns every week. This was why, at one time, a horse was employed to tow the mower. This wasn’t a convenient option for many reasons, so it was evident that more research was required.
Finding Out About Lawns
A lot of research and development has been put into lawn mowers, with the most likely reason being America’s obsession with their lawns. This is a relatively recent development, with lawns being most and inaccessible luxury until the late part of the 19th century.
Since lawns make up about 30 million acres in the United States of America alone, it’s worth finding out just what brought about such a burgeoning interest. This comprehensive history will detail the beginnings of lawns, which made them an American obsession, the lawn-care industry, the environmental impact of lawns, etc.
Conclusion
Lawn mowers come in many shapes, sizes, and types. You have the walk-behind, corded, cordless, electric, battery-powered and even riding mowers for various sizes and styles of lawns. Make sure to research the pros and cons of every kind before choosing one option. You’ll hopefully have your lawn in pristine shape in no time!