Ⅰ. Matching engine horsepower to lawn area
Lawn area is the key factor in determining engine horsepower. Insufficient horsepower can lead to low mowing efficiency and equipment overload damage; excessive horsepower, on the other hand, increases unnecessary costs and energy consumption. The following are recommended solutions for different lawn areas:
Small lawn areas (typically up to 500 square metres)
Such lawns do not require high-power equipment; engines with 3.5–5 horsepower are sufficient to meet all needs. Considering the usage frequency and maintenance convenience of small lawns, the engine must possess the basic characteristics of ‘smooth operation and reliable performance.’ A hand-start engine is the optimal choice — it is not only easy to operate, requiring no complex starting system, but also requires minimal maintenance. It starts smoothly and quickly, making it ideal for daily maintenance of small lawns.
Medium-sized lawns (typically 500–2,000 square metres)
As the area increases, so do the requirements for equipment efficiency and durability. It is recommended to choose a 5–6.5 horsepower pull-start lawn mower (suitable for smaller areas) or an 8.5–12.5 horsepower ride-on lawn mower (suitable for larger areas where manual labour needs to be reduced). Since the area to be mowed is directly proportional to engine load, larger areas result in longer and more intense engine operation. Therefore, when selecting equipment, it is crucial to prioritise engine durability and design service life to avoid frequent failures due to the equipment being unable to handle the workload.
Large lawns (typically over 2,000 square metres)
Large-area lawn mowing demands extremely high power, necessitating a high-power engine. A 20–25 horsepower garden tractor is the top choice. Using a lawn mower with insufficient power not only results in extremely low cutting efficiency (potentially requiring repeated mowing to meet standards) but also severely damages core components (such as engine overheating and accelerated blade wear), significantly shortening the equipment’s service life. Based on actual usage results, a 22-horsepower lawn mower balances power and energy consumption, meeting the needs of most large-area lawns and offering better cost-effectiveness.
II. Matching Lawn Mower Performance to Lawn Topography
In addition to area, lawn topography features (such as flatness, number of obstacles, slope, etc.) also affect the mower's performance and user experience. Equipment should be selected based on topographical characteristics:
Simple terrain lawns (gentle slopes, few corners, no significant obstacles)
Such lawns have low equipment requirements, and a basic manual push mower is sufficient. When selecting a model, prioritise ‘operational convenience’—a high-quality manual push mower should feature ‘smooth one-button start-up and a lightweight, easy-to-manoeuvre body,’ enabling effortless handling of straight lines or minor turns on flat terrain. No additional complex functions are required, balancing practicality and cost-effectiveness.
Complex Terrain Lawns (uneven surfaces with rocks/shrubs or other obstacles)
Such lawns require a lawn mower with stronger directional control performance to prevent loss of control due to uneven terrain or obstacles. We recommend choosing a walk-behind lawn mower (with a flexible body that can quickly adjust direction when manually pushed to avoid obstacles) or a medium-sized ride-on lawn mower (which is more effort-saving to operate and has a seat design that cushions uneven terrain). If opting for a ride-on model, it is recommended to equip it with a 12.5-17.5 horsepower I/C engine. This engine not only delivers robust power to handle uneven terrain but also offers fuel efficiency advantages. Additionally, its design maintains lower operating temperatures, effectively reducing high-temperature damage to the engine and further extending the equipment's service life.
Extremely complex terrain grasslands (large-scale courtyards, significant elevation changes, dense obstacles)
Such grasslands pose extremely high demands on the comprehensive performance of equipment, making ordinary lawn mowers inadequate. Professional multi-functional equipment is required. The grassland-specific tractor launched by Yugong Machinery Equipment can perfectly handle such scenarios — it not only boasts powerful engine output, enabling it to effortlessly handle uneven terrain and dense obstacles, but also supports various functional attachments. Beyond basic grass cutting, it can perform tasks such as raking fallen leaves, transporting materials, towing tools, tilling soil, and planting, achieving ‘one machine for multiple uses’ and significantly enhancing maintenance efficiency in large-scale courtyards.
