A uneven bumpy lawn is difficult to maintain, doesn’t have much curb appeal, and can be a real ankle-twister if you aren’t careful! The best way to achieve that smooth, even lawn of your dreams is to get a high-quality lawn roller.
Here, we’re taking a look at the best lawn rollers of 2024 to know why use a lawn roller and make sure you get the right tools to get the job done.
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Product | Our Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Agri-Fab, Inc. 45-0267 18” x 24” Poly Push & Tow Behind Lawn Roller |  |  | |
2. Agri-Fab, Inc. 45-0268 18” x 36” Poly Tow Behind Lawn Roller |  | ||
3. Brinly’s 24″ PRC-24BH Combination Push Lawn Roller or Tow-Behind Lawn Roller |  | ||
4. Ohio Steel TS-2452LR 52-inch Lawn Roller |  | ||
5. Ohio Steel 36-inch Lawn Roller |  | ||
6. Precision Products PLR1824 Lawn Roller |  |
What is a Lawn Roller?
These are cylindrical mini rollers that look a bit like a barrel with a long handle. You push them across your lawn, and the weight of the roller gently evens out the ground without damaging the grass.
What Does a Lawn Roller Do?
Whenever you need to gently compact and level your ground, a lawn roller is a big help. They’re typically used for:
- Evening out a bumpy lawn
- Laying new turf evenly
- Smoothing out molehills
- Striping your lawn
When to Use a Lawn Roller?
You can use a lawn roller any time of year, but the best time to even your lawn out is in early spring, when new grass growth is appearing and the roots are in an active growth stage.
You can also use a grass roller when you are establishing a new lawn, as it helps bed roots into the soil, removing air pockets and helping the turf settle in faster. Try to roll your lawn when the soil is fairly dry to avoid over-compacting the soil.
How Often Should You Use a Lawn Roller?
Heavy lawn rollers should only be used infrequently – to flatten a bumpy lawn or to settle new turf. Lighter lawn rollers can be used more frequently to roll out your lawn, deal with problem areas, and stripe your lawn.
Does Rolling Grass Help it Grow?
Rolling is more for creating an even, smooth lawn rather than stimulating grass growth. If you have sandy soil, you can roll your lawn fairly frequently.
If you have heavier clay soil, only roll when the soil is dry, and do so infrequently as the soil can easily become compacted, which restricts grass growth.
Should You Roll Over Grass Seed?
Grass seeds are very fine and lightweight, so it’s better to avoid rolling your area when the seeds have just been spread.
Instead, lightly roll the space before spreading the seeds to even it out, then lightly disrupt the top inch or two of soil to create little gaps where the seeds can settle in and are more protected from the wind.
When you water them in, the soil will even out. You can then lightly roll the lawn again once the new grass is established, around 1 month to 6 weeks after planting.
What to Consider When Buying a Lawn Roller
Push or Tow Behind
If you own a riding mower or garden tractor, it may be a good idea to choose a tow behind lawn roller to make levelling your lawn easy as you mow. If you have a push lawn mower or self-propelled lawn mower, you’ll need to look at push lawn rollers.
Size
When it comes to size, it’s all about the size and complexity of your yard. Larger cylinders get the job done in fewer passes, but can be heavy as well as difficult to use in tight corners or around obstacles.
Smaller cylinders are lightweight and more maneuverable, but can make rolling a very large space a bit time-consuming.
Weight
Heavy lawn rollers are a good option for very bumpy lawns and sandy soil, and are a good option when laying new turf. Lighter lawn rollers can be used more frequently and are a good option for regular garden maintenance, lighter work on clay soils, and striping your lawn.
Ergonomic design
Ergonomic elements such as adjustable, well-shaped handles and soft grips are very important on push lawn rollers, as they make the job easier and help reduce back strain.
Reviews of the Best Lawn Rollers
This tow-behind lawn roller is lightweight at 50lbs, but can weigh up to 400lbs when filled with sand or water. It’s tough, well-built from rust-proof poly for durability, and has a great scraper bar for preventing soil from clumping on the roller.
It’s big and wide, easy to fill and empty, and has a universal hitch for compatibility with any garden tractor or riding mower.
Pros
- Rust resistant
- Dent resistant
- High-quality build
- Push and tow-behind capabilities
- Centre buffer creates more stability
- Detachable drain plug
- 3-year warranty
Cons
- Works better with water
Slightly smaller than the lawn roller mentioned above, this model offers the same, rust-resistant, dent-resistant features for small yards.
It offers a 400lbs weight using water, and weighs less than 50lbs when empty, making it easy to use and store. It has a removable drain plug and fills quickly using a normal garden hose, and the poly scraper bar keeps the drum clean.
Pros
- Rust resistant
- Dent resistant
- High-quality build
- Centre buffer creates more stability
- Universal hitch
- Detachable drain plug
- 3-year warranty
Cons
- Limited to tow-behind capabilities
- Recommended to use water only
If you are looking for affordability and quality, this Brinly lawn roller is a great option! It works as both a push lawn roller or tow-behind lawn roller, levelling mole hills and bumpy lawns with ease.
The smoothed drum ends help prevent lawn damage and the scraper bar keeps the drum clean. It’s easy to store thanks to its compact design, and you can fill the 28 gallon drum with water or sand to get an impressive 270lbs of weight.
Pros
- Prevents lawn damage
- Easy to store
- Compact design
- Durable rust-resistant construction
- Affordable
- Tow behind or push capabilities
Cons
- Will require some help to assemble
4. Ohio Steel TS-2452LR 52-inch Lawn Roller
This tow behind model is one of the best lawn rollers for heavy duty work. With a 52-inch rolling swath and a 94-gallon steel drum that weighs up to 920lbs when filled with water, there’s no uneven lawn that can withstand it!
It will easily level mole hills and ant hills, as well as treating freeze/thaw damage to your lawn. The rounded edges help to prevent lawn damage while still delivering a smooth finish, and it comes with a 2-year limited warranty.
Pros
- Large 52-inch rolling swath
- Rolling weight up to 920lbs
- Easily flatten ant hills and mole hills
- High-quality steel construction
- Standard pin hitch
- 2-year limited warranty
- Ideal for commercial use
Cons
- Heavy at 140lbs
- Limited to tow-behind capabilities
5. Ohio Steel 36-inch Lawn Roller
If you like the sound of the Ohio Steel 52-inch Lawn Roller but want something smaller and more compact, then this is a great option. With a 36-inch rolling swath, it will still get the job done quickly.
The 71 gallon steel drum is well-constructed for powerful smoothing action, weighing up to 600lbs when filled with water. The rounded edges reduce damage to the grass, and it’s ideal for smoothing lawns as well as horse arenas.
Pros
- Heavy-duty and built to last
- Powder-coated steel drum
- Rolling weight of up to 600lbs
- Ideal for horse arenas and lawns
- Standard pin hitch
- 2-year limited warranty
Cons
- Limited to tow-behind capabilities
- Still fairly heavy at 102lbs
6. Precision Products PLR1824 Lawn Roller
This compact lawn roller is best-suited to smaller yards and everyday lawn maintenance, with a practical and maneuverable 18x24-inch cylinder.
Despite the smaller size, it still offers 220lbs of rolling weight when the 27 gallon tank is filled, which is more than enough for flattening a bumpy lawn, laying new turf or working on more clay-heavy soil.
It’s made of heavy-duty polyethylene that’s rust-resistant, dent-resistant, and built to last, and it’s easy to assemble.
Pros
- Push and tow behind capabilities
- Compact for smaller yards
- High quality frame and cylinder
- Comfortable T-shaped handle
- Easy to assemble
- Affordable
Cons
- Plug can fall out quite easily
- Some parts are occasionally missing
Sumo Gardener's Lawn Roller Top Pick for 2024
We’ve chosen the Agri-Fab, Inc. 45-0267 18” x 24” Poly Push & Tow Behind Lawn Roller as the best lawn roller for 2024! With its 400lbs rolling weight and 24-inch rolling swath, it’s a practical size for almost every application and lawn size.
The polyurethane cylinder is lightweight and easy to store, and the drain empty/fill plug works with a normal garden hose for easy filling. It’s weather-resistant and rust-resistant, making it ideal for working on freeze/thaw lawn damage as well as bumps from moles, gophers and ants.
One of the best things about this roller is that it can be used as a tow-behind lawn roller (it comes with a universal hitch) or push roller, so it works regardless of the type of lawnmower you have.
Some assembly is required, but it’s performance and durability will win you over in no time!
Enjoy a Professionally-Finished Lawn with the Best Lawn Roller
Now you know what is a lawn roller used for and more. If you want a smooth, even spread of lawn that is the envy of every neighborhood, then you need a great lawn roller. The best lawn rollers will handle all types of bumps and uneven areas, from ant hills and gopher mounds to freeze/thaw damage with ease.
Remember to look for a tow behind model if you have a garden tractor to smooth as you mow, and make sure your lawn roller is ergonomic and easy to maneuver if you are getting a push model.
We hope you’ll share pictures of your perfect lawn with us after you get the best lawn roller for 2024!
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