Lawnmower and lawn care guide

Suitable for smaller lawns and gardens, hand-propelled lawnmowers need to be pushed manually. You have complete control over the speed, starting and stopping as the engine is built to drive the cutter blade.

If you have a large garden and find pushing a mower difficult, opt for a self-propelled model. These lawnmowers drive themselves forward when you press the handle. Some come with a variable speed drive, enabling you to control the pace of the machine.

The wider the blades, the more grass that gets cut with each pass.

They cut right to the edge of your lawn, so there's less need for a separate trimmer.

If your mower has a cable, check if it is long enough to reach all parts of your garden.

A battery with high voltage (V.) is powerful and runs for more time without interruptions.

Mowers with this feature allow you to control how high you cut the grass.

Adjust the handle so it's comfortable for your height. It also makes the mower more compact to store.

A large capacity box will help you avoid emptying over and over again.

This slightly flattens the grass while you mow - it's what creates the lawn stripes.

Use an edging tool to cut away plant growth and give your garden a defined border. Grass trimmers are versatile, but they can't always get into difficult areas or tackle tough, rogue roots. Reach for some secateurs or shears to tidy up the last few troublesome spots.

A grass trimmer is the perfect gardening tool for cutting the grass your lawnmower can't reach. They use a nylon cord instead of a blade, allowing you to cut safely against paving, walls and other features.

Cutting the right amount will help keep your lawn healthy. Use your lawnmower at its highest setting when you first mow in spring. Gradually lower the height as the weather gets warmer, until you reach your ideal height.

Aerating makes little holes in the soil surface so more oxygen can get to grassroots. You can use a garden fork for this or a rolling aerator. Ideally, the best time to aerate a lawn is late spring or early summer.

The early morning is the best time to water your lawn, giving it plenty of time to dry before nightfall. Heavy soils should be watered with a sprinkler less often and less heavily but for longer periods of time.

Shady areas generally require less frequent mowing than areas that receive direct sun. When mowing, use the tallest blade height possible so that the grass can still capture enough sunlight to survive.

Late spring and autumn are the best times to scarify your lawn. You should only scarify when the grass is growing strongly. Scarifying removes dead grass and moss so fresh grass can breathe and get better access to nutrients.

It can damage your grass if you cut it too short. Keeping your grass a bit taller will help your lawn stay healthy. Never cut more than a third off the top of your lawn, as this may limit deep root growth and cause discoloration.

If you want to get lawn stripes, choose a lawnmower which has a rear roller. This presses the grass so all the blades point in one direction. For best results, change the direction of your mowing stripes each time you mow.

Don't give weeds the chance to develop deep roots. Remove them in spring or early summer. Use weeding tools to cut them at the root and prevent their seeds from spreading throughout your lawn.

Avoid cutting your lawn when it's wet. Damp grass is harder to cut and takes longer to trim. The best time to mow is mid-morning, between 8 and 10am, after the dew has dried and before the sun is at its peak.

Grass clippings are great for making compost or you could grass-cycle and leave them on the lawn. Many mowers come with a mulching function. They'll grind up grass clippings so they can be left on your lawn to fertilise it.