hi guys im new to this, me and my wife has just bought our first house and i want to get the garden looking nice. i have discovered i like being in the garden! i need a lawnmower that gives the stripe effect at a budget price any recommendations please? thanks

Hi I hope you find the following useful. For stripes on your lawn you will need a mower with a rear roller, the heavier the better. I too am a 'stripe enthusiast' and have a Hayter Spririt mower which has a roller. It cost around £250. However because it is so light the stripes it leaves are useless. I have sorted this by putting 3 house bricks in a bag on top of the mower Job done, lovely deep stripes now that last. You might consider the next Hayer mower, the Hayter Harrier, which is a heavier mower, costs around £380. Leaves good stripes. Finally as I am sure you are aware, to get a 'nice lawn' it takes more that a good mower. I would recommend to you this book, THE NEW LAWN EXPERT by DR D G Hessayon. About a fiver off Amazon. Good luck

Many thanks i have got one with a roller on it but it is light so thanks for the brick tip didn't even think about that, and i never would of known there was this much work to go in and all im basically doing is grass cutting oh and de weeding im the most beginners of beginners at the moment so i may be posting quite often on here,

thank once again

DockLeaf wrote:
Many thanks i have got one with a roller on it but it is light so
thanks for the brick tip didn't even think about that, and i never
would of known there was this much work to go in and all im basically
doing is grass cutting oh and de weeding im the most beginners of
beginners at the moment so i may be posting quite often on here,


A Theory:
The stripes are grass that has been flattened along the ground. It will tend to
continue to grow along the ground, rather that upward. Over time, you may find
that the grass stems lie flat on the ground, and the leaves are short compared
to the stems. Raking or otherwise disturbing the lawn can lift the stems, and
the next mowing may leave no leaf on the stems.

If you want larger width stripes, (personally I feel that these push along mowers are too narrow to give it a professional looking stripe width) find a piece of wood e.g. an old door, drill two holes in in it put some rope through to make shoulder straps and walk with it dragging behind you. You will find that this gives you great larger width stripes. You can also do this when there is a heavy dew or it has rained to give a great immediate presentation. Also much cheaper than buying a fancy lawnmower.