Lawn guide
The best lawnmowers for new turf
A new lawn deserves a mower that cuts cleanly without tearing or lifting the young turf. Here's how the different types compare, and what to look for whatever your budget.
Mower types compared
| Type | Best for | Good on new turf? | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cordless rotary | Most small and medium gardens | Yes: light and easy to handle | Look for a large rear roller if you like stripes |
| Electric (corded) rotary | Small lawns near a socket | Yes: light and cheap to run | The cable needs managing |
| Cylinder (push or powered) | Fine, flat lawns | Yes, once rooted: very clean cut | Not great on long or uneven grass |
| Petrol rotary | Large lawns | Wait a few cuts: heavier | Self-propelled models are kinder to new turf |
| Robotic | Busy households, regular trimming | After the first few cuts | Needs a boundary wire and a flat-ish lawn |
| Hover | Slopes and awkward banks | Not ideal: can scalp new turf | Light, but cuts less evenly |
What to look for
Whichever type you choose, a few features make a real difference to a new lawn:
- Sharp blades. A clean cut keeps grass healthy; blunt blades tear it and can tug at young turf.
- Adjustable height. You need a high setting for the first cuts, then lower it gradually.
- Light weight. Heavy mowers can dent soft ground and lift rolls before they've rooted.
- A grass box. Collecting clippings for the first few mows keeps the young lawn clear.
- A rear roller. Optional, but it gives that striped finish and presses the turf gently.
Matching a mower to your lawn
For a small terrace lawn or yard, a compact cordless or electric rotary is easy to store and carry through the house. For a typical semi's back garden, a cordless rotary with a 34 to 40 cm cut covers it comfortably on one battery. Larger lawns suit a wider cordless, self-propelled petrol or a robotic mower once the turf is established.
Stripes
Stripes come from a roller bending the grass in opposite directions as you mow up and down. Any mower with a rear roller will do it; a cylinder mower gives the crispest stripes.
The first cut
Wait until the turf has rooted, usually two to three weeks, and mow on the highest setting. Our guide to the first mow explains how.
Common questions
Can I use a robot mower on new turf?
Yes, once it's rooted and you've done the first few cuts yourself. Robot mowers are light and trim little and often, which lawns like.
Is a cylinder mower better than a rotary?
A cylinder gives a finer cut on a flat, well-kept lawn. A rotary is more forgiving and copes with longer or uneven grass.