There are many different categories of lawn mower, as you'll no doubt have seen if you've browsed our site, but only two primary types of blade; rotary and cylinder. Cylinder lawn mowers feature anywhere from 4 to 12 individual blades arranged in a cylinder shaped design (hence the name), which spins and forces the grass against a fixed straight blade and slices the grass rather like a pair of scissors. We've analyzed a number of different models in this category and have archived all of our cylinder lawn mower reviews on this page for you to easily access.
Our Cylinder Lawn Mower Reviews
Still debating whether to go for a rotary mower or a cylinder mower? No problem, as we've recapped some of the main pros and cons of cylinder lawn mowers below.
Advantages of Cylinder Lawn Mowers
A Cleaner Cut that's Healthier for Your Lawn
There are some caveats associated with this statement (namely that if you let you lawn grow too long, a rotary mower would actually be better for grass health), but if we were to use a cylinder type mower on a well-kept lawn, there's no doubt that this cutting method is better for the health of your grass. The slicing action results in a nice clean cut as opposed to the "tearing" effect of a rotary blade. Grass cut with a cylinder blade recovers quicker and is less susceptible to infections that can not only be unappealing aesthetically, but potentially damaging long-term.
Can Cut Shorter for that Putting Green Style Finish
This is one area in which a rotary mower just won't be up to the job. If you need to produce a ornamental lawn type cut that you often see at country clubs, private estates and on bowling greens, there's only one option; a cylinder lawn mower. They are able to deliver a much shorter, more accurate cut that is necessary for these circumstances. The shortest cutting height on a rotary mower will be too high. Look for a model with a roller if you are determined to make your lawn look like Centre Court at Wimbledon!
Drawbacks of Cylinder Lawn Mowers
It's Imperative that You Mow Frequently
If you read through any of our cylinder mower reviews one thing will become apparent rather quickly; they shouldn't be used on longer grass. When grass gets to a certain height, a cylinder style blade will simple cause it to fold over and won't actually cut it. Just imagine that scenario in your head for a second. It's darn frustrating! For that reason, if you do opt for a cylinder mower, you need to accept the fact that you'll be outside mowing your lawn more frequently.
Fewer Options to Choose From
The majority of lawn mowers on the market are rotary mowers. A quick look at the offerings at any of the major retailers and that will become apparent. So you have fewer brands and models to choose from, and a lot of the cylinder mowers available are hand powered, which are better suited to smaller yards. If you're intent on getting a powered cylinder mower there are very few options and most of them are quite expensive.