The basic choice is between cylinder and rotary mowers (both are available as walk-behind and sit-on models) but there is also an increasing use of rechargeable battery technology to reduce your carbon footprint.
First, rotary versus cylinder. The cylinder mower, with its cylindrical blade unit at the front and heavy roller at the back, is designed for cutting very short and is best used for high-quality lawns, croquet lawns, bowling lawns, etc. These, of course, are also high-maintenance lawns, but if that’s what you along with perfect stripes, this is the mower for you.
The rotary mower, with a single (two-ended) blade that rotates, is a more versatile machine and offers higher cut settings. It is also much easier to sharpen the rotary mower’s blade (see next question below). It can come with a back roller to create a simple stripe effect, or with four wheels for greater manoeuvrability.
Second, consider the power source. We now have more choice than before, with rechargeable battery mowers (an increasing range including mowers for tough terrains) and even self-propelled mowing robots. Modern lawn care can be extremely ‘green’ and the responsible gardener does not have to rely on traditional petrol mowers.