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To mow the perfect stripe, consider the number of blades, cutting height and manoeuvrability. By Sally Drury
TESTED THIS WEEK
Dennis FT510 27
Allen Super Stripe 61 28
Lloyds Paladin 21'' 29
THE REVIEW PANEL
Kate Vivian-Neal, National Trust assistant head gardener, Killerton House
Andy Shaw, National Trust gardener, Killerton House
JohnMcLeod, National Trust gardener, Killerton House
Whether you are maintaining a bowling green, tennis court or fine ornamental lawn, mowing keeps the sward neat, vigorous and in a suitable condition for use. Pedestrian cylinder mowers remain popular for their ability to provide a low cut, collect the clippings and leave a striped finish. We asked the National Trust gardens team at Killerton House, in Devon, to put three machines through their paces.
The Allen Super Stripe is one of the newest machines on the market - it was introduced in 2002, but seems very familiar. Having been available in much the same form since the early 1960s, Lloyds' Paladin mower has a reputation for quality. What will our young team of testers make of it? The Dennis FT510 is a cassette mower/turf-care system that won an award for innovation in 1992. We find out why it remains a best-seller today.
The test site was a fine ornamental lawn. On the day of the test, a heavy frost had to be given time to thaw and the resulting moisture brushed off the grass.
Next week: Cultivators
Dennis FT510
If you want options, look at this machine. It must rank as one of the most versatile and cost-effective mowing/ turf-care machines on the market. And it's got performance too.
It's over a decade since Derby-based turf-care equipment manufacturer Dennis scooped the Horticulture Week/Institute of Groundsmanship new product award for innovation with its FT510. It is still proving a worthy winner today with customers from sports clubs, schools, parks and gardens around the world enjoying the benefits of the quick-change cassette system. With prices from £2,625, we reckon it is a system that should be within budget for most sports clubs and contractors.
Mid-range extends options
The FT510, with 51cm working width, sits in the middle of a range of three mowing and grass-care systems engineered by Dennis - the others being the 43cm FT430...