Understanding the role of cylinder mowers in groundscare

The cylinder mower has maintained its position as a staple in grounds maintenance, too – trusted for its essential role in achieving an exceptional finish through precision cutting, while also holding its own not just on top playing surfaces with its millimetre precision, but also on the roughs of roadside verges.

Groundscare maintenance: which machine should I use?

Maintaining grounds to a high professional standard is a meticulous process that demands attention to detail, suitable equipment, and extensive knowledge of diverse turf types. But maintenance patterns are changing.

Councils are encouraging more rewilding projects and groundskeepers are being asked to keep grasses longer and coarser to improve biodiversity. As such, the use of cylinder mowers may be in decline – and that’s not to mention the fact rotary mowing technology is evolving constantly, increasing in efficiency and precision, giving the cylinder mower stiff competition.

So, when it comes to the tougher conditions of parks and grounds, is there still a spot for this precision machine?

Types of mowers used in groundscare

Understanding mower types is essential to selecting the right equipment for the task at hand. Here’s a quick breakdown of cylinder mowers and rotary mowers and what they are designed for:

Cylinder mowers

Cylinder mowers are designed for fine turf management, such as golf courses and bowling greens, delivering a precise, clean cut that rotary mowers can’t always match. They have a cutting cylinder made of multiple blades rotating against a fixed bottom blade, offering unrivalled cutting quality.

Pros

• Better quality of cut
• Lower height of cut with micro adjustments
• Front-mounted collection
• Rear roller for striping and aesthetics
• Electric, petrol, diesel, and hybrid models available

Cons

• Typically more expensive to purchase and maintain
• Flat area required for lower cutting heights
• Debris can damage blades more easily
• More frequent cutting is required

Rotary mowers

Rotary mowers, in contrast, use high-speed rotating blades to cut grass. They offer faster mowing capabilities, making them ideal for larger or more robust grass types. Rotary models can also handle foreign objects such as twigs or stones more effectively than cylinder machines.

Pros

• More suitable for longer grass
• Less expensive to purchase and maintain
• Electric, petrol, diesel, and hybrid models available
• Less frequent cutting required
• More robust and manages less flat terrain better

Cons

• Lower quality of cut vs cylinder mower
• Typically rear collection only
• Ineffective at striping grass alone
• Less versatile for height of cut (can’t cut below 10mm)

If you need help choosing which type is best for you, read through our comparison guide here

Why do grounds professionals often choose rotary over cylinder mowers?

When it comes to grounds machines, they need to be able to tackle a wide variety of terrains and a diversity of landscapes, cutting a wide range of grass lengths and types. Rotary mowers are typically versatile machines capable of adapting to both rougher terrains and formal lawns alike.

The benefits of a rotary mower

The heart of their effectiveness comes from the rotary blade that rotates horizontally and swiftly – a design that allows for rapid grass cutting and the ability to mow properties or parks with large, grassy areas.

With their high-speed cutting blades, they are efficient and can quickly manage expansive areas and tougher grass conditions. The ability to adjust most models for different heights is also invaluable as it allows grounds professionals to tailor their mowing to specific aesthetic and functional requirements. What’s more, the precision of finish achieved with modern rotary machines means they could be snapping at the heels of cylinders in that category, too.

Examples of rotary mowers used in grounds maintenance

• Toro Groundsmaster 3300. This out-front rotary mowers is able to deliver an exceptional quality of cut even in the most demanding terrains. And when mowing tall, wet grass, the flail deck option ensures high-quality results time after time. Durable and versatile, the 3300 is the go-to rotary mower for teams that need power and precision in one rugged package.
• Toro ProLine H800. Another favourite for grounds operations, this rotary mower is engineered for productivity, letting you mow and collect grass clippings in one seamless motion, delivering a high quality cut finish and minimising interruptions. Its high-lift system makes emptying clippings quick and effortless, and the ability to adjust the height of cut on the go means you don’t have to stop working to adapt to changing turf conditions.

Applications of cylinder mowers in groundscare

That’s not to say the precision of a cylinder mower doesn’t have a place in the grounds industry. Even with the advancement of its rotary counterpart, there are instances where precision continues to be a valued part of grounds maintenance.

Beyond sports applications, cylinder mowers excel in parks, gardens, and stately home grounds; their ability to produce flawless stripes and distinct patterns enhances aesthetic appeal. The machine’s rear roller flattens grass, accentuating desirable patterns and contributing to the overall aesthetic and presentation of the turf.

Rotary mower cutting units differ from the mechanism of the cylinder, which sees a cylinder of helical blades rotate against a fixed blade, creating a scissor-like action. Favoured for shorter cutting heights, especially for fine turf, taking this mechanism onto the longer grasses of municipal land can lead to the blades of a cylinder mower becoming clogged and tangled.

When this happens, grounds teams must stop more frequently to clear the cutting deck, which is both labour-intensive and time-consuming. This issue can also impact the mower’s cutting speed, leading to increased wear and tear and potentially putting undue stress on the mower’s engine. Cylinder mowers also require frequent blade sharpening and careful operation to maintain peak performance.

Public parks and National Trust properties

When it comes to maintaining the grounds of a National Trust property a careful balance must be struck between preserving historical authenticity, ecological balance, and aesthetic appeal.

Many properties value local biodiversity, and as such prefer extended cutting cycles and varying grass lengths to create habitats for wildlife and encourage pollination. Depending on the site, some National Trust properties may be committed to protecting certain species and will base grounds maintenance on these ecological drivers.

But interspersed with these rewilded areas are borders and edges, as well as lawns and pathways that make for easy visitor access. These require a much shorter and precise level of cut – the perfect job for a cylinder mower, trusted across the industry for exceptional precision, high quality finish, and ability to produce aesthetic patterns.

The role of cylinder mowers for grounds maintenance

As such, machines may have to adapt between robust mowing and detailed finesse. Going between the two requires two things: a skilled operator and a versatile machine.

When it comes to cylinder mowers, the skill of the operator can often have a much larger bearing than with an out-front rotary and flail mower. Proper operation of cylinder mowers requires skill, experience, and attention to detail.