The Reason Why We Purchased Baroness LM12MH
2016/01/05
We purchased Baroness push electric lawn mower, LM12MH in July 2015. Though I was interested in it since before, 178,200 yen inclusive of tax (as of Dec 2015) was too expensive. In addition, because I was satisfied the previous mowers, Ryobi LM-2800 and Husqvarna NovoLette 540N, I didn’t intend to buy such an expensive mower. But because I replaced the lawn with TM9, I finally purchased Baroness LM12MH.
I planted Korai-shiba (Zoysiagrass) in our backyard in 2010. I used to keep it in a tall height in those days.
- The cutting height of the first, Ryobi LM-2800 is normally 5 to 25 mm, but it can cut in between 30 and 50 mm with an accessory part (Rear Wheel Holder 6076387) attached. We also attached the Rear Wheel Holder and kept our lawn in about 40 to 50 mm.
- Then we purchased the second, Husqvarna NovoLette 540N because we wanted a hand push mower. Though the cutting height of 540N is 12 to 38 mm, we kept our lawn with the highest of 38 mm.
I used to like the tall lawn grass. It has many advantages, such as resistance to foot pressure, thick appearance regardless of its grass density, and good walk and sit feeling. It also doesn’t require so much ability to the mowers, as far as they can cut at a high cutting height. But the situation has changed after we planted TM9 in 2013.
TM9 is a low-maintenance Korai-Shiba developed by Toyota Motor, whose grass height is less than half the existing cultivars (a common Korai-shiba). Low grass height naturally requires low cutting height. Higher grass density and more flat cutting are needed in order to finish neatly in a low cutting height, and the mower is also required a high capacity.
In specific, three qualifications, i.e., the sharpness of the blade, the power of cutting, and the weight of the machine, are required. In case of the high density grass, because the resistance to the cutting becomes larger, the mower cannot cut the grass and stops if the sharpness and power are insufficient. And without enough weight, the mower floats and can’t cut evenly. I am afraid to say that LM-2800 and 540N can’t overpower TM9 in our home. In contrast, Baroness LM12MH can cut sufficiently despite of the high density lawn and the low cutting height, because it holds all the three qualifications, i.e., sharpness, power, and weight.
What is more difficult about TM9 is to cut the seed stalks. TM9 sprouts seed stalk several times in a year, and it creates individuals exhibiting long plant height when the seed stalks have matured and the fallen seeds have sprouted. It also spoils the appearance. So we need to cut the seed stalks (= mow the grasses). However, the height of this seed stalk is so short, that we can’t cut them without quite low cutting height. In our home, 8 mm height of LM12MH can cut most of them, but some seeds and stalks (culms) are remaining if we look precisely.
The above photo is current situation in December 12, 2015. Though depending on the place, seeds and stalks are remaining a little if we look precisely. Regarding LM-2800 and 540N, seeds and stalks were left on the whole surface, which was not so beautiful.
This is our story. It wasn’t like we purchased LM12MH for step-up, but we necessarily bought it because of the changes in the type or cutting height of the lawn. I recommend a mower that holds three qualifications, i.e., sharpness, power, and weight, to who’s planning to install TM9 or other grasses in a low cutting height. On the contrary I don’t think who planning higher cutting heights needs an expensive mower so much, if only it can be set to a high cutting height. (This is my personal experience and impression. It’s not verified enough. It’s just a suggestion.)