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  Adam Pilgrim July 2, 2015 at 6:20pm

  Cylinder mowers are not tolerant of uneven or bumpy lawns and the cylinders can easily be knocked 'out of set' by stones, pine cones, golf balls even a decent sized twig....Then they don't cut properly (if at all).

  Also expensive to run and maintain (cylinders and bottom blades needs to go to dealer for sharpening).

  Also, on the whole, cylinder mowers can't chop off long weeds like dandelions, or the long seed ends of ryegrass, merely rolling them down for a few seconds till they pop up again.

  Plus a cylinder mower can't collect leaves in the autumn, or those stray bits of hedge trimmings like a rotary mower can.

  There's a reason why 99% of contractors run rotaries....

  That said cylinder mowers DO have their place but its usually on fine turf, which is very regularly cut such as bowling greens or very fine ornamental lawns.
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  Paul McNulty July 2, 2015 at 7:35pm

  I've never seen them other than used by greenkeepers. I did use a client's one for many years on his immaculate lawn and Adam's right about maintenance!
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  Colin Hunt July 2, 2015 at 8:48pm

  We keep an old Atco cylinder mower for one particular lawn.  The cut is second to none, but as Adam says, they are high maintenance!!  If you have a few quid to spare, it would be an addition to your fleet - but maybe not money-making!
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  James Brett July 2, 2015 at 9:33pm

  I don't think I have a site which is even half way close to being suitable! Plus the rotary is great as it picks up hedge cuttings and such like
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  Ray McIntosh July 4, 2015 at 10:38am

  When starting out I purchased an Atco 50cm cylinder in addition to the obligatory flymo and rotary machines. As mentioned service costs were higher, clients lawns had to be level and the machine was also slower so an additional charge was made for this 'cut'. The machine was sold off this year having spent most of its working life on my own lawn, albeit the cassette was also exchangeable for a scarifier one so it was dual purpose and did earn some money, but not enough to justify its investment.
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  Duncan Holmes July 4, 2015 at 4:54pm

  Really good to hear all your opinions.... I did have one myself for my own use a few years ago but as you mention, I always found the seed end of ryegrass pinging back up as Id rolled over it...
  Unless I'm approached by a bowling club or cricket ground then I don't think I'll be getting one. I do quite like the old school feel of them, but as a business tool I think I've been convinced...
  I was having a bit of a downer on my Atco Admiral 16 that I use for small gardens.... The bag doesn't fit with a very good seal to the body and so ends up spraying fine grass out of the side (annoying..!) so i think that was going to hit eBay and be replaced with a cylinder but I may just look at why the bag isn't fitting so well...
  • PRO

    Richard Gadsby > Duncan Holmes July 6, 2015 at 11:28pm

    I run 2 now and although they are a pain to keep cutting right I have to say that I love them and the finish they produce.(on the right lawn)
    Can't live without the rotary mowers though!
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  David Flisher July 13, 2015 at 12:44am

  I prefer a cylinder mower, and try to use it where possible, which it isn't always, so I have a back up rotary for the more... family orientated lawns.  

  I also have a manual cylinder mower, which three of my older clients love me using!
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  Dan Frazer Gardening July 14, 2015 at 8:51am

  Cylinder would be next to useless for me as all my jobs are fortnightly; all I'd be doing is flattening grass down. Also very heavy, awkward in small areas etc.