Cyclone Tools in hand, you freeze—ready to mow yet terrified of ruining your lawn.

August 26, 2025

The honest truth about buying your first lawn mower

It’s half thrilling, half horrifying — and 100% a rite of passage

Buying your first lawn mower is a bit like driving your mate’s manual ute for the first time. You smile bravely, pretend you’ve got it under control… and then promptly stall it in front of the entire street. Twice.

The thing is, the lawn doesn’t care. It keeps growing. Which means the sooner you feel confident behind the wheel (or handle), the sooner your weekends go from frustration to fresh-cut satisfaction.

“The first time I mowed, I missed entire strips down the middle. It looked like a bad haircut.”

You're not alone. What looks simple often isn't — until someone shows you exactly what you're supposed to be doing. That’s where this suddenly gets easier.

Before: 3 passes to cut patchy grass. After: 1 smooth lap—and actual straight lines

Once you get the basics right — the right mower for the size of your yard, blade height settings, where to start your first row — it’s a complete game-changer. Suddenly, those chaotic zig-zags vanish. And your lawn starts looking like something out of a home reno show.

Here's what no one tells you before you buy:

There ARE different mowers — and yes, one works better for your size yard
Grass type + mower height matters more than you'd think
The weight of the mower can turn your Sunday chore into a breeze... or a full-body workout
Cords are chaos in the wrong backyard layout (and batteries don’t last as long as YouTube says)

If your lawn is the size of a picnic blanket, you don’t need a mega mower with all the bells and whistles. You need something light, easy to move, and forgiving if you accidentally run over a garden gnome. (We’ve all done it.)

Which type of mower suits you?

Here’s a backyard-friendly breakdown to spare you the overwhelm:

For courtyards and small patches:

Electric or battery-powered with smaller deck
Lightweight — less strain, easy to lift in/out of tight storage areas
Quieter — neighbour friendly

For medium suburban backyards:

Petrol or high-powered battery
Wider deck — fewer passes
Catch or mulch option — handy for composting

For lifestyle blocks or larger yards:

Self-propelled petrol mowers make a huge difference
Built tough — more power, greater cutting range
Mulching essential to save time

Still not sure? Ask someone local what mower they use — especially if their lawn makes you a little bit jealous. There are certain makes and styles that just WORK here in South Australia’s soil and heat. Knowing this saves you stepping into guessing-treeville.

How to mow (without the anxiety)

You don’t need to overthink it. Here's the simple formula that works for first timers:

Mow when the grass is dry. Wet grass clumps and scalps.
Start against a straight edge, like your driveway. Always cut a border first — then fill in the rest.
Use overlapping passes. Avoid patchy bits and zigzags.
Don’t go too short. It stresses the grass and lets weeds sneak in.

And if you mess it up? So what. Grass grows back. Confidence grows faster.

“Every great gardener once accidentally scalped their first lawn. It’s part of the journey.”

Truth bomb: mowing is your first garden ritual

You’re not just cutting grass. You’re marking the start of something: a sense of pride, a connection to your space, a kind of calm that only comes when the world smells like fresh clippings and weekend plans.

Some people find it meditative — headphones in, lines straight, world switched off. Others do it on speed-mode to make way for the real gardening. Either way, it’s your backyard, and your mower is the key to shaping it.

So yes — buying your first mower might feel like a big step. A little scary. But it's also the gateway drug to garden confidence. One lap at a time.