How Lawn Mowers Work

No matter how large or small a lawn is, keeping the grass trimmed to a good-looking height means hard work. Doing it by hand is too tiresome and time-consuming, and there is a need to use a dedicated machine. Lawn mowers are machines specially designed to cut grass with little effort. Many models are available, but all rely on a rotating blade that is adjustable in height.

Blade arrangement

The two more common types of lawn mower blades rotate in either a horizontal or vertical axis. Horizontal blades are mounted following a spiral along the walls of a cylinder. Vertical axis blades are mounted on a disc, much like a fan, and rotate at much higher speeds. Vertical axis blades are heavier but more efficient, cutting more grass and with much cleaner cuts on each pass. Horizontal axis blades are best suited for narrower passages or thicker grass. All types have the possibility of varying the blade height to adjust grass length.

Power

Most lawn mowers need power to move the blades and, on some models, to move the lawn mower itself. The most popular solution is a small engine that runs on gasoline or alcohol. This allows greater freedom than similar-sized electric mowers that need an extension cord or heavy batteries. Cut grass is either spread along the lawn or kept in a catcher for later disposal. Hand powered lawn mowers, mostly of the cylinder blade type, still exist, but they are only used in very small lawns or where noise is prohibited.

Lawn mowers come in various models, but most fall into two large categories defined by blade arrangement. All of them cut grass to a preset height with a rotating blade, keeping lawns looking perfect.