Sulkies are a necessary part of any lawnmower. Yours may need single sulkies or double sulkies, depending on the type of mower. Knowing the difference between the two and the benefits of both can be helpful in choosing what you need.

Comparison of Features

There are some features that both types have in common and some features they don't share. For example, both single- and double-wheeled sulkies may jack knife. However, neither of them can retract.

Either way, when you are using sulkies, you will feel every single bump you encounter. Neither of them will keep you at ground level or even centered. This is something that can be said of any lawnmower.

Both have a manual chain up, and both can be safely used to cover any paved service. In this respect, single sulkies are just as beneficial as double sulkies.

Which Is Better?

Whether single or double sulkies are better depends on your needs. The two most common problems with single sulkies are worn bearings and flat tires.

Those with only one wheel present an additional problem. They can negatively compact soil if used on wet ground. Single sulkies give off many pounds per square inch, which can cause damage. This is one reason why double sulkies are safer to use. With more than one wheel, the ground is exposed to less pressure.

The single-wheel type can be dangerous to use on a hill. If the incline is very steep, riding the sulky could prove to be unsafe. However, you run a bigger risk of having flat tires on a double sulky than on the single type.

Considerations When Choosing

While some users prefer a standing sulky, others prefer a sitting sulky. Standing sulkies have double wheels and are better at absorbing shocks. However, both can be easily steered.

This is important when it comes to making precise turns. In this respect, a standing sulky is safer to use. You should always test drive one before deciding whether or not to purchase it.

Standing sulkies are not as widely used as sitting sulkies are. With a built-in standing deck and multiple foot rests, this type can be more comfortable to use. One benefit to using a standing sulky is that it gives you a better view of the ground below. It puts you eight to 10 inches above it.

Most people can learn to use a standing sulky better than a sitting sulky. When used for commercial purposes, standing sulkies require much less training.

You work hard to maintain your lawn. Perhaps you aerate it once or twice per year, you water it when there is not enough rain and you cut it regularly. You may even avoid walking on the lawn as much as possible and pull out weeds as soon as they show up. Even with all your efforts, it is possible for your lawn to develop a disease. Here are five of the most common lawn diseases and some tips on what you can do in order to get rid of them.

Brown Patch

Brown patch, also called by its scientific name Rhizoctonia solani, is a common fungal disease of lawns. It primarily affects tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass. This fungal lawn disease takes off when nighttime temperatures are warm, around the 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit range. It shows up as large brown patches. The best cure is a fungicide with strobilurins.

Large Patch

Large patches are also caused by Rhizoctonia solani, but it includes different symptoms. It affects zoysia grass and Bermuda grass in moderate and warm climates. This grass disease looks like small brown areas with thin grass growth on the edges. Over time, the patches grow in size, and they can reach the size of a king-size bed. Several types of fungicide, including azoxystrobin and propiconazole, should be applied in the spring and fall to control this lawn disease.

Pythium Blight

Pythium blight, also called Pythium aphanidermatum, is a water mold disease. It is caused by poorly drained soil or longstanding damp or humid conditions. This could happen with a low tree or shrub canopy above the grass. The symptoms of this blight are circular areas about six inches in diameter with grayish foliage. Fungicides such as mefenoxam are the solution, but they work best when applied before the lawn shows the discoloration from the water mold.

Pink Snow Mold

Pink snow mold, called Microdochium nivale by scientists, is only pink for a day or two. It is not actually associated with snow cover. It can persist year-round in cool, humid places. It looks like small, circular patches that appear wet or glossy on their edges. Over time, the small, circular areas turn tan. The best way to get rid of pink snow mold is with propiconazole and strobilurin fungicides before symptoms develop, and multiple applications are usually needed.

Summer Patch

Summer patch is another fungal disease of lawns, particularly Kentucky bluegrass. It is caused by the fungus Magnaporthe poae. It starts growing in the late spring and early summer, but it does not cause a change in the appearance of the lawn until late summer when the grass is under more stress from heat. Strobilurins and propiconazole fungicides are most effective as a preventive measure. Once symptoms develop, summer patch is difficult to control. When it shows up, good irrigation can mitigate the effects.