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• PRO

  Stuart @ Eco Garden Maintenance February 12, 2012 at 12:56pm

  Always stripe with Honda HRH536 QX or Honda HRB425C. Everyone likes a nice stripe dont they? In the times i have been asked, i have only been asked for stripes. Only 4 wheeler i would consider is etesia.
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  Graeme @ BGS February 12, 2012 at 2:16pm

  I like the Hayters but fast losing faith with the brand but given the choice and lawn / weather conditions I would use the roller mowers.

  Now I like a striped lawn and I assumed that so did my clients but out of many 100 of clients, only one raised an issue when I swapped over to using the Etesias last year and only striped up every 3 to 4 cuts.

  End of the day, the client wants to see a quality cut and particular attention to the edging etc.  Stripes are of a secondary requirement and not always a good USP.
• PRO

  Daniel Gillings @ DC inc February 12, 2012 at 2:30pm

  I'm still a fan of the Hayter brand myself - I use Hayter 56's. For us the lawns we cut really need to be striped, it's what our clients want.
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  Lawncare-4u.co.uk February 12, 2012 at 2:45pm

  both ,   i like hayters rear roller,     i use an etesia sometimes and recycler / mulchers.  and small wheeled for odd commercials that are small.
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  Adam Pilgrim February 12, 2012 at 3:31pm

  I have a variety of different mowers depending on the specific task at hand - Hayter 48 and 56 for stripes, Hayter Double 3 for longer grass/mulching and my little Mountfield Empress 16" for putting the stripes into the smaller gardens.

  Also have Hayter Hayterette and Toro 36" Proline for rough cutting mainly on commercial sites.

  For me, domestic cuts are always striped, it started off as my personal preference buts its now become one of the things that my business is known for - a striped lawn and precisely trimmed edges.

  I advertise as ANP Services Spalding 'For all your garden and ground maintenance requirements' - I simply couldn't fulfill some of the jobs that I do without several different machine. I do have several customers who are very particular and indeed requested that I use a roller mower.

  I am actually currently working on a modification to my Snapper ride on mower to enable it to leave a stripe too... 
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  Dan Frazer Gardening February 12, 2012 at 3:41pm

  I dislike Hayters, I've used a few and the collection is so poor it's not worth the effort.

  I have a danarm 21" pro roller for 2012, last season I used a masport 540, but need a blade clutch hence the change.

  The danarm roller and my etesia pro 53 will be the main machines for the season.

  Some big sites I use the Hydro 80 ride on, rough site and verges I used a ferris commercial 36, some lawns up long flights of steps are cut using an Allen 453 flymo, and I have a back up etesia pro 56 for rough first cuts and clearances where there might be debris under the grass.

  I think Honda roller mowers are the only way to go for professional use.
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  Mark Rowe @ MLR Garden Services February 12, 2012 at 5:38pm

  i must agree with you paul the estesia ability to cut in wet conditions massivley outweighs stripes especially in the current climate. although i am looking into getting a roller. shame etesia doesnt do a model with a roller.

  
  
  Paul @ PPCH Services said:

  I use wheeled mowers, never had any complaints as long as the grass is weed free and well fed it stil looks velvety green and has bounce to walk on and the customers are happy.

  For me the ability to cut in wet conditions otweighs the cosmetic value of stripes.
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  David Cox February 12, 2012 at 7:20pm

  Etesia Pro46PHTS for is my personal prefference due to its all-round ability to cut in any condition. Snapper 21" for mulching.

  I've found that on customers who want stripes it is easily achieved with a 5mm thick strip of rubber about 4Inch long attached to the rear of the Etesia- it lays the grass down as a roller would and leaves a good stripe, however alot of my customers seem not to mind as long as the grass is short, lush and green.
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  andy @Doughty Garden Maintenance February 12, 2012 at 7:50pm

  I don't like posting on equipment related threads because i haven't got the money to buy etesias or other £600+ mowers so i always avoid the threads,

  However i thought sod it i will post on this one, because I use a Qualcast roller mower for small lawns and for a large barn conversion grounds that i maintain, It leaves perfect stripes and I have cut in heavy rain and it has never dropped a bit of grass, It cost me £250 brand new, It ran all last season without issue, and the barn job takes 4 hours each week, plus the several small lawns it did, It has had a full service and is ready for another busy season. So don't give me any sh*t it's a damned good mower, and it does a damned good job!!

  I also have a big old Honda HR214 which i use on a churchyard and 2 orchards, and any other larger rougher jobs, it doesn't have a roller but it has a metal flap behind the rear wheels which leaves the stripes to, It does a fantastic job in all conditions.

  I did have a little old suffolk punch a couple of years ago, but i think the constant stopping and starting between jobs didn't do it any good and i sold it to an enthusiast so it could retire in peace. But it did leave a great finish with perfect stripes.

  As mentioned by others edging is key to a great looking lawn and i always do that before the mowing.

   

   
• PRO

  mark thomas February 12, 2012 at 8:00pm

  mark ive got honda pro 21, hayter 48, etesia 46, and a viking 19 inch rear roller and to be honest the viking wins all the way, stripes, split roller you can spin it around so quick its a pleasure to use, picks up wet grass just as good as etesia, variable speed control, fills the gass box to max got the flap indicator on box to tell when full all in all with a price tag of £620 i can not fault it i use it all the time over the others yes people say its looks plastic on this site BUT have they ever owned one !!!???