First, think about how you’d like to use your lawn. Will you want to lie back and soak up the sun? Do you need a separate space for children to play and pets to run around? How about a wildlife-friendly meadow? Or is the main aim to practice your golf swing? All of these may affect the shape. Whatever you decide, with their mobility, agility and ability to manage the trickiest of areas, Husqvarna’s Rider range of ride on lawnmowers is ideal for keeping your lawn, no matter what its shape or complexity, at its best. And because they’re so easy to drive, mowing the lawn won’t seem like a chore, more a fun way to spend some time, cruising around your garden in the sun.
No matter how complex a shape you decide on for your lawn, the flexibility of the Rider range will tackle tight corners, obstacles and curves with ease. With its comfortable seating position and front-mounted cutting deck you can see exactly where you’re mowing – there’ll be no more worrying that you’re giving your precious perennials an unwelcome haircut. The floating front mounted cutting deck follows the contours of your lawn and ensures the grass is cut first before the machine drives over it leaving a superior clean finish.
A section of paving or bricks running the perimeter of the lawn to separate it from the planting space, known as a mowing strip, is a good idea. It need not be very wide and will frame the lawn beautifully. Otherwise, install edging – a metal or plastic strip in the ground to maintain a clean line between lawn and border. Whichever you choose, the maneuverability of the Rider range means you’ll be able to mow right up to and along the edge.
A change of level works well – a banked lawn leading up to a raised area at the rear of the garden, for example, will create a sense of extra space. Here, you may wish to place a seating area for dining or relaxing with a tea or coffee. Selected Husqvarna Riders feature all-wheel drive and will whizz easily up any slopes you create. Whether or not the ground is a little damp and slippery, the Rider will coast up and down with ease, even if you stop to admire your work halfway.
Once your layout is mapped out, introduce some detail. This can take the form of specimen trees or shrubs, or perhaps a birdbath or sundial as a focal point. These will not form an obstacle to the Husqvarna Rider. Thanks to its unique articulated steering, it manoeurvres effortlessly – as if on a sixpence – so can easily circle a tree trunk without leaving unsightly tufts at its base to tidy up afterwards. Equally, the front-mounted cutting deck will allow you to access those hard-to-reach areas beneath shrubs or garden furniture. No patch of lawn will remain untouched, regardless of how tricky it may seem to get at.
Variety can be introduced with different grass lengths. For instance, you might want to mow a path through longer areas to create a meadow effect, which is easy as the rider’s controls are placed close together and beside the driver’s seat ensuring cutting height adjustment can be carried out easily while on the move. You could go all out and create a wild flower meadow – good for poor soil – that will have the bees and butterflies humming with joy.
The Rider’s cutting decks allow you to change the cutting method to suit the condtions. For instance, the labour saving mulch option is ideal for a regular lawn; using this setting, finely chopped clippings are dispersed on to the lawn as you mow, returning vital natural nutrients back into the soil and leaving you with a lush lawn. It also means you do not have to worry about disposing of the grass clippings later. The rear ejection option is ideal for longer or tougher grasses that are cut less often such as a meadow or an orchard. On selected models a range of front attachments can be fitted – including a flail mower – allowing even the toughest of conditions to be tackled.
Further contrast can be added by breaking up areas of lawn with paving or gravel sections. Stepping stones can lead from one area to another and avoid muddy feet. And you needn’t worry about keeping the paths tidy, the Rider’s broom attachment will help keep them leaf-free over autumn, simply fix it to the front of the Rider and off you go.
So, be bold, sketch some designs on a piece of paper and have fun. And with Husqvarna’s Rider range of mowers, you can be safe in the knowledge you’ll be able to enjoy keeping your lawn clean, tidy and healthy, no matter how large or complex your new garden turns out to be.
To find your nearest Husqvarna dealer use the locator on Husqvarna.com
