Rotary mowers: Rotary mowers are characterized by one very high-speed rotating cutting blade, which slices the grass on impact. These mowers are common as they allow medium to high-cut grass to be quickly cut and deposited in a rear-mounted grass box. These mowers typically have four fixed wheels for maneuvering.
Cylinder mowers: Cylinder mowers have a series of blades that tend to be exposed in a cylindrical drum structure on the front of the machine. Unlike rotary mowers, these cut grass by slicing against a fixed bottom plate, with a series of smaller blades doing the work of one. These machines work best when cutting low to medium-height grass.
Hover mowers: Hover mowers are similar to rotary mowers in that they cut grass with a rotating cutting blade or disc - they differ in that they don’t have wheels for maneuvering. Instead, the hover mowers create a downward firing cushion of air that allows them to move easily in any direction, like a hovercraft.