Broominator Jr Review: Budget Lawn Stripes From Your Push Mower

What the Broominator Jr is

It's a bracket that holds a regular push broom behind your push mower. The bristles drag across the grass and bend the blades in the direction you're mowing, which is what creates a stripe. Most striping kits do this with a heavy roller instead.

It's the push-mower version of Broom and Stripes Co.'s Broominator, which mounts to riding mowers and zero-turns. It's made in the USA, and the broom is not included. Their sizing guide calls for a 24" broom on a 22" mower like mine.

Install

It took me about 30 minutes on my Toro Recycler 22". The bracket pressure-fits onto the mower handle, so there's no drilling and nothing permanent. Then you set the broom height and angle so the bristles sit on the grass.

Tools you'll need: a 7/16" socket, a 7/16" wrench, and a Phillips screwdriver (a drill with a Phillips bit is faster). Nothing gets drilled into the mower. The drill just drives the screws.

Plan to have a broom ready before the kit arrives so you're not stuck waiting. A basic 24" push broom runs about $15 to $30.

How it stripes St. Augustine

The stripes were very similar to what my CheckMate lays down. Side by side in the same yard, most people wouldn't be able to pick which kit made which stripe.

That matters more on St. Augustine than on most grasses. Its thick, wide blades and sideways growth don't fold as easily as fescue or bluegrass, so a lot of striping reviews you see online won't match what you get in a Gulf Coast yard. This one held up.

On handling: the Broominator Jr is much lighter than the CheckMate, so it's easier to carry, attach, and take off. Behind the mower, the broom drags in the grass, so pushing feels about the same as the heavier roller. Neither one is a workout.

Broominator Jr vs. Big League Lawns CheckMate

Both tested on the same Toro Recycler 22" in the same St. Augustine yard.

Prices as of October 2026. Check both sites for current pricing and sales.

What I liked and what to know

What I liked

• Stripes very close to a premium roller kit
• Costs less, even after buying a broom
• Easy 30-minute install with no drilling
• Much lighter than a roller
• Made in the USA
• Replacing a worn broom is cheap

Things to know

• Broom not included, so plan for that purchase
• Lighter-gauge metal than the CheckMate. You'll see a little flex, but it's still very good quality
• Doesn't fold up for storage
• Not effortless to push because of broom drag (the heavier CheckMate isn't either)

Which one should you buy?

Buy the Broominator Jr if you don't own a striper yet. You get stripes that rival the premium kit for less money, and it's the one I'd recommend to most homeowners.

Buy the Big League Lawns CheckMate if you want the sturdiest build, need it to fold for storage, or don't want to source a broom. You're paying for the build quality and convenience, not better stripes.

Already own a CheckMate? Keep it. Switching wouldn't change your stripes much. But if you're starting from scratch, the Broominator Jr is the smarter buy.

Tips for striping St. Augustine

• Mow on the high side. Longer blades bend more and show more contrast. See how tall to mow St. Augustine.
• Alternate directions every pass. Grass leaning away from you looks light, and grass leaning toward you looks dark.
• Look from the right angle. Stripes pop most when the sun is behind you.
• Do a clean-up pass on the ends. Mow a perimeter strip to hide the turns.
• Repeat the same pattern. Stripes get deeper when you mow the same lines a few weeks in a row.

Where to buy

Get the Broominator Jr at Broom and Stripes Co. →

See everything I use on the Gear page, and follow @turfmethodtx on TikTok for striping clips.