But are electric lawn mowers the best choice when it comes to creating a traditional striped lawn?
Absolutely. There are many electric lawn mowers that are fitted with a rear roller and will create defined and long lasting lawn stripes, just as good as any other powered lawn mower. However, choosing the best electric mower for lawn stripes is by no means an easy task, as there are so many models available on the UK market. Don’t worry, I am going to guide you and assist to ensure you invest in a machine that is going to achieve the results you desire, is based on your requirements, and serve you for many years to come.
An electric lawn mower that may be best option for one person may not be right for another, so using my guide below will ensure you understand what options and features are available and should be considered, so you make a well informed purchasing decision matching your exact needs.
In A Hurry?
If you are short of time and just want to see the best electric mowers for creating stripes, below I have created, for each category, a shortlist of my top picks.
Last update on 2024-10-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
5 Best Electric Lawn Mowers With a Rear Roller for a Striped Lawn
To help you out, below I have listed the best electric mowers with a rear roller that will create a beautifully striped lawn. If you want to learn more about each mower click on the “Full Review” button, it will take you to a page with a comprehensive review including the pros & cons, features and who the mower is best suited to. Use the filters to narrow your selection in order to meet your requirements.
A Complete Guide to Buying an Electric Mower with Rear Roller
Use the information below to guide you on your journey to purchasing the perfect electric mower to create that quint essential British striped lawn.
Why Striped Lawns Are So Popular?
Having a striped lawn appearance gives the impression that your lawn is professionally managed. However, achieving this yourself is entirely possible, will not cost the Earth and is easy to do with the right electric lawn mower.
How Do I Create Stripes on My Lawn With an Electric Lawn Mower?
It goes without saying that you are going to need an electric lawn mower that has either two wheels and a dedicated rear roller or four wheels with an additional rear roller. More on this later.
As the mower cuts your grass, the rear roller is permanently in action ironing out minor bumps as it flattens the soil and bends the blades of grass in alternating directions on each pass. This creates the striped lawn appearance, as the blades of grass facing you appear darker compared to those facing away, due to the reflection of light. As a result, the lawn looks healthy and well-manicured.
When cutting your lawn it should not be cut too short as it will be difficult to achieve a striped lawn appearance. Keeping it longer will also prevent the lawn from disease, damage and drying out. This is another reason that using a roller in your garden is highly beneficial, as it will ensure you maintain a regular mowing schedule sticking to the recommended 1/3 cutting rule. This will not only ensure that your striping works effectively, but is essential for keeping your lawn healthy. Remember, it is the longer grass lying flat in two different directions that results in the professional striped appearance.
When using a mower with a roller on your lawn you will, no doubt, have a more methodical approach to mowing. Following planned row patterns will prevent some areas of your lawn being missed, as could easily happen with other mowing options.
In summary, striped lawns are extremely popular in the UK as they provide that perfect pampered treatment and lawn finish that will be the envy of your neighbours. Your don’t need a professional company to create a striped lawn, this is certainly something you can easily do yourself.
Is an Electric Mower Best for Creating a Striped Lawn?
As mentioned above, there are different powered mowers with a roller that will provide a striped lawn appearance (petrol, cordless, push, ride-on, not only electric).
Just remember that the heavier the mower the more long lasting stripes the roller will produce. Heavy petrol mowers will produce longer lasting stripes compared to a lightweight electric mower. However, some people do not want to worry about the maintenance of petrol mowers, changing oil, spark plugs and fuel. Your electric or cordless mower will require some basic maintenance, but nowhere near as much as a petrol mower. Others do not want to keep charging batteries before they mow their lawn, as is the case with cordless mowers, but still want a powerful reliable mower with many additional features and easy / reliable starting. For these homeowners, an electric mower with a rear roller is, for sure, the best option.
Of course, you can continue to use a mower with no roller and purchase a standalone roller, however, just remember that you will be doing the job twice and extra storage will be needed.
It is worth mentioning that some mowers have a striping mat, this is not the same as a rear roller. The mat pushes the grass down, but as there is hardly any weight it will not be as good or have the same results and lasting impact compared to a roller.
In summary, while it is true that other power options with a rear roller are available, the simple convenience, low maintenance, value for money and practicalities make electric mowers the most popular power option when it comes to achieving a striped lawn.
What Features Should a Good Electric Mower for a Striped Lawn Have?
- Deck Size & Cutting Width – Choosing how big your electric mower is, will no doubt be determined by the size of your lawn. Get this right and you will be able to get the job done as quickly as possible with fewer passes. Balance this with the additional storage space required and the additional weight of a larger mower. Speaking of weight, when it comes to finding the best electric mower for lawn stripes, heavier is by far better. Below is a table that shows you what you should be looking out for, when deciding on the width of the deck for the different sized lawns.
Lawn Sizes to Lawn Mower Deck Guide
- Cable Length – It goes without saying, that the longer the power cord, the more reach the mower will have when dealing with a medium to larger lawn. Of course, if needed, you can always add an extension lead to reach all parts of the lawn.
- Cutting Heights – Having a good range of cutting heights means that you will be able to cut your lawn in accordance with the season and your personal preference. Just remember, as we mentioned earlier, better lawn stripes will be achieved if you leave the lawn that little bit longer, but most certainly no shorter than 40mm. Having a single lever that adjusts all four wheels is also not something found on all electric lawn mowers, but is something I would highly recommend.
- Weight – As mentioned above, most homeowners would be looking for a lightweight electric mower, however if you want to achieve a more defined and longer lasting stripes, a heavier mower is far better. This is why heavy petrol mowers do such a good job of creating lawn stripes and are used on golf course greens. It is about getting the balance right, so choose a mower that is light enough to take to and from the garden shed and easily manoeuvre around the lawn, whilst still producing the lawn stripes you so desire. Most electric lawn mowers will range between 10kg and 14kg, depending on the size and features.
- Other Features – When choosing your next electric lawn mower, there are other features that you will need to consider. These include adjustable and ergonomic handles, larger rear wheels, leaf collect option, grass collection full indicator, collection box capacity and even self-propulsion.
- Cutting Options – Electric mowers are provided with between 1 and 4 cutting methods. These include cut & collect, mulching, side and rear discharge. Only a few electric mowers will have side and rear discharge options. But what about mulching? Whilst there are many electric mowers that will have the ability to mulch the grass cuttings, the fact that the mower you are looking for has a rear roller means that mulching may not always be the best option. Why is this? Mulching cuts the grass clippings into tiny pieces and deposits them back into the lawn. If the lawn is slightly damp, your rear roller will pick these small clippings up causing clumps of grass being deposited on the lawn, not the desired result.
- Storage – If you are short of storage space, then consider an electric mower that has folding handles at both the mid and lower points of the bars. Vertical storage is also a great feature that can safe up to 70% of the mower’s storage footprint and is another plus point over a petrol mower, that naturally can’t offer this feature.
- Budget – When considering a corded electric mower with a rear roller for creating lawn stripes, budget plays a pivotal role in the decision-making process. The inclusion of a rear roller typically adds to the cost, but it’s important to assess the overall value rather than just the initial price tag. Cheaper electric corded lawnmowers might save money upfront, but they could lack the durability and effectiveness of slightly more expensive options. It’s essential to weigh the cost against factors such as the quality of the cut, the longevity of the mower, and the availability of after-sales support and spare parts. Investing a little more initially could mean better stripes, a longer-lasting mower, and fewer headaches down the line.
- Warranty & Support – Having a decent warranty and a brand that you can call on when you either need a repair or spare part, is crucial to the longevity of your new electric lawn mower. Some brands do this very well, while others leave a lot to be desired. There is nothing worse than trying to replace the blade on your mower, only to find that you can’t locate one for love nor money. In all my detailed reviews I will always score the level of support and warranty that is provided with each mower, so be sure to check this out.
Conclusion
There you have it. I hope the above information has provided you with everything you need to choose the best electric lawn mower to produce a striped lawn you can be proud of.
So now you have your specific requirements, it is time to head over to my lawn mower selection tool, where you can filter them to receive a shortlist of my best electric mowers with a rear roller in seconds.
If you are still unsure what mower is best for you, don’t panic, you can always use the comments box below to ask any questions you may have, and I will be more than happy to help.
Electric Lawnmower with Roller FAQs
How Are The Stripes On The Lawn Achieved?
The light and dark green stripes are achieved by a mower with a rear roller or a dedicated roller by pushing and bending the grass down, with the sunlight reflecting off the blades of grass. The grass facing you will appear darker compared to that facing away.
Should I Change The Direction Of The Stripes In My Lawn?
Yes, it is recommended that you change the direction every 2 weeks to prevent the grass from lying, leaning or growing in one particular direction.
How Do I Create A Striped Lawn?
You will need a mower with a roller or a standalone roller to achieve a striped lawn. Some mowers have a striper mat, but this is not as effective and long-lasting as using a roller. You can’t create a striped lawn without a roller.
How Do You Mow A Striped Pattern In Your Lawn?
Mow your lawn in one direction, at the end of the row turn the mower around and continue mowing in the opposite direction. To mow a checkboard pattern in your lawn, in addition to the striped pattern you will need to mow your lawn a second time at 90 degrees or horizontally to your first cut.
How To Create A Double Width Stripes With A Push Mower?
Mow your lawn in one direction, return mowing on one side as normal, to create a double width stripe mow next to your first cut in the same direction. This will create a double width stripe. Continue mowing two rows in the same direction covering your entire lawn for a consistent double width finish.
Is It Better To Cut My Lawn Short Or Long?
Cutting the lawn too short or too long is likely to cause damage and be prone to lawn disease, drought or heat damage. Creating stripes in your lawn is reliant on the grass not being too short or too long, around 30mm should be just right. Always follow the 1/3 rule, do not cut more than 1/3 of the total length of the grass blade and follow regular mowing schedule, normally once per week during the growing season.
How Do I Find The Best Mower For My Lawn?
To find the perfect mower for your lawn, use my mower selection tool that will select the perfect mower for you and your lawn in seconds, based on your requirements. https://easylawnmowing.co.uk/find-the-perfect-lawn-mower/
Video Guide To Buying The Best Electric Lawn Mower
As a seasoned expert in the field of garden power tools, I have dedicated over a decade to working with and reviewing a wide variety of lawn mowers. My extensive experience has allowed me to gain a deep understanding of the benefits and limitations of different types of mowers and garden tools.
Over the years, I have honed my skills in writing informative articles and creating helpful videos for various blogs and publications. This has given me the ability to not only recognise what makes a good lawn mower, but also to help you choose the perfect garden tool for your specific needs and requirements.
With my wealth of knowledge and expertise, I am confident that I can provide you with valuable insights and recommendations when it comes to selecting the right lawn mower for your lawn. So, whether you're looking for a battery cordless, electric, petrol, or robotic mower, you can trust in my expertise to guide you towards the best option for your garden.
Best mower for small. Laws that cut in stripes lightweight possibly around hundred pounds
Hi Ann, a good electric mower I would recommend that meets your requirements and is currently on offer is the Flymo EasiStore 340R. Link below –
https://amzn.to/3eOdiNJ
Kind regards
Mark