It's important that the mower has sufficient cutting heights to suit the lawn when regularly mown and to cope with the extra growth in spring or after a holiday, so that no more than a third of growth is removed in one mowing session.

If the height of cut is difficult for you do alter, you won't do it, which makes mowing more difficult and is bad for the lawn.

Cylinder mowers are straightforward to adjust nowadays - often no tools are necessary. Hover mower adjustment varies according to the make - you may have to get out a spanner and swap spacers placed between the blade and deck.

Other rotary mowers may have a single lever, or one on each axle, or one on each wheel. Those which are adjusted by one lever or knob are the quickest to use and available from the major companies.