Lawn Mowers Buying Guide

There are many factors that contribute to making each lawn and each homeowner's lawnmowing needs unique. Fortunately, there is a wealth of variety on the market. From an inexpensive manual reel mower to a riding mower large enough to maintain acres of lawn, there are options to fulfill every need.

Choosing the best lawn mower depends on careful consideration of both the lawn and the person who will be mowing it. Someone with a fairly small lawn who enjoys being outside and wants to get exercise while mowing may do very well with a manual mower or a non self- propelled electric or gas mower. On the other hand, a larger plot of land can make a riding mower far more attractive. How powerful the engine needs to be depends largely on the type of terrain and the type and length of grass to be cut. Some of the specific factors to consider include: size of the yard, how smooth and even the ground is, whether there are hills and inclines to deal with, what type of grass or other ground cover need to be cut, how often the lawn will be mowed, how the grass clippings will be disposed of, and what amount of time and physical exertion is acceptable to the user. Budgetary considerations include the purchase price, maintenance and running expenses.

Lawn mowers are most easily categorized by power source and type of motion. This guide will cover manual reel mowers, push mowers, self propelled walk behind mowers, and riding mowers.

Manual Reel Mowers

Reel lawn mowers are often considered old fashioned and therefore ineffective, but for smaller lawns they can be a great choice. This type of mower consists of the "reel" which is a cylinder of blades that turns when the mower is pushed, and a stationary bed knife. The movement of the reel brings the grass between the blades and the bed knife, which clips the grass cleanly like a pair of scissors. Modern versions are light and take about the same effort to push as a non-self propelled motorized mower. Because there is no motor, this type of mower is very quiet, and because it uses no fuel it has the least environmental impact of all the mowers. Most models have a range of easily adjustable cutting heights, so they can be adjusted according to the type of grass in the lawn.

Reel lawn mowers are not appropriate for everyone, though! Long grass or tall weeds are much more difficult to cut with this type of mower than short, regularly maintained grass. Users who tend to let the grass grow between mowings are better off with a more powerful option that deals more easily with long grass. It also takes slightly longer to mow a lawn with a reel mower than with a powered mower, so the larger the lawn, the less practical this option is.

Rotary mowers are all powered by either an electric or gasoline engine. The horizontal blade or blades are attached to the engine shaft and turn at the same rate as the engine. The construction of the engine and blade housing, or deck, creates a partial vacuum to pull the grass straight so that the blade can cut rather than simply flattening the grass as it passes. In spite of this, the cut is less regular than that from a reel mower, and it is important to keep the blades sharp by either sharpening or replacing them periodically. Rotary mowers are also much easier to cut longer grass with than a reel mower. The range of rotary mowers includes push mowers, self propelled walk behind mowers, and riding mowers. The engine's power source may be an electric cord or battery, or a two or four cylinder gasoline engine. Mowers can be used with a bag attachment to collect clippings, or they may be designed to chop the grass into smaller pieces that can be left on the lawn as mulch.

Electric Engines

Electric mowers eliminate the need to fill gas tanks or put up with exhaust. They are also quieter than gas powered models, and by eliminating exhaust they may have less of an environmental impact. Some types are powered by a cord which needs to be plugged in to an external power outlet. This can be a good option for smaller yards where the length of the cord allows the mower to reach every corner. Rechargeable electric mowers eliminate the limitation of the cord, but it is important to make sure that the battery life is suited to the amount of time it takes to mow the entire lawn. For self-propelled versions, that estimate should include the time spent returning the mower to its storage space.

Gas Engines

Gas powered mowers are available with either two-cycle or four-cycle engines. Two-cycle engines are lighter than four-cycle engines and have a higher power to weight ratio. Unfortunately, they also have more potential for causing high levels of air pollution, so four- cycle engines are more popular. Four-cycle engines are somewhat heavier than two-cycle engines, but they offer cleaner combustion. They also tend to run more quietly, although both types are louder than electric mowers.

Gas models offer more power than most electric mowers, which makes it possible to easily include more options with high horsepower. Gas powered mowers can also operate longer between refuelings than a rechargeable electric mower. This makes them the better option for larger lawns.

Push Mowers Rotary push mowers generally have a 5.5 HP engine or larger. Because the forward motion is powered by the user pushing, the motor only needs to power the spinning blade that cuts the grass. This means that push mowers can use less powerful engines while still cutting grass effectively, although bigger engines still have the advantage of being able to cut through dense growth more easily. Push mowers can be either electric or gas powered, and may include options such as mulching action or bag attachments.

Self-Propelled Mowers Self-propelled rotary mowers use their motors to power forward motion as well as the spinning of the cutting blade. This makes mowing the lawn much less strenuous for the user, who only needs to steer the mower and watch out for obstacles, although steep slopes or rough ground may involve some pushing depending on the power of the engine. Obviously, the extra duty makes it important to buy the most powerful motor possible, within the considerations of budget and necessary features. Self propelled mowers may be electric or gas powered, although gas engines often provide more horsepower.

One consideration specific to self-propelled mowers is the speed settings. Speeds and adjustability vary widely between models, so it is important to find one that matches a comfortable walking speed for the user. A mower that moves too slow is as bad as one that moves too fast, since either condition makes mowing the lawn an unpleasant experience for the user. It is better to fit the mower to the user than for the person mowing the lawn to either get impatient strolling along or have to struggle to keep up!

Riding Mowers Riding mowers are ideal for large lawns that would take too long to mow at a walking pace. Transmission may be a gear shifter or automatic. Gear shifters are great for smooth lawns, operating at a constant speed. Automatic transmission is preferred for lawns with many obstacles or rough ground, where being able to vary speed quickly and easily is important. Single cylinder engines are good for most lawns, while twin cylinder engines offer more power if needed. Some models have the horsepower to pull a mini trailer or an attachment such as an aerator. Zero turn radius, or ZTR, allows for agile maneuvering around obstacles such as trees and gardens. While they are more powerful, riding mowers do use more gas than push or self- propelled mowers. They also take up more storage space, which can be a concern in many homes.

Grass clippings left behind by lawn mowers can be a good mulch and natural fertilizer if the pieces are small enough, but larger clippings can block needed sunlight from reaching the lawn and need to be removed. In a small enough lawn, raking up clippings after mowing is a workable option, but with larger spaces it can be a troublesome chore on top of the actual mowing. Fortunately, most lawnmowers offer either bagging or mulching features that take care of grass clippings while mowing, eliminating the need to rake them up afterward. Some models even offer both options, with the ability to switch from one to the other depending on the situation.

Bags

Lawn mowers may discharge clippings to either the side or the rear of the mower. Many mowers come with a bag made to fit the specific model, while others may require the owner to buy a bag attachment seperately. Lawn mowers with rear bags are much easier to maneuver than mowers with side bags, which is why this set-up is very popular and easy to find. Both electric and gas powered lawn mowers are available with bags. There are even bag or catch attachments for some manual reel mowers.

Mulching

Mulching mowers cut the grass clippings into tiny pieces during the process of mowing the lawn. When the pieces of grass are small enough, they can be left to lie on the lawn, where they will quickly decompose and become a natural fertilizer. The mechanism for mulching varies from model to model, and may involve one or two specially designed blades and variations in the deck of the mower. Mulching action is available in both electric and gas powered lawn mowers. Manual reel mowers can also work for mulching if the lawn is maintained frequently enough that the clippings are kept short.

Once the buyer decides what type of mower is best suited to the lawn and themselves, there are a variety of other features that can be used for comparison and choosing the best model within the category of mower. Convenience and adjustability are both important considerations. Look at what heights the mower can be adjusted to cut at, and how easy it is to adjust it. Handles may also be adjustable to suit the user's height and make the mower easy to push or direct. Starting mechanisms include push buttons, switches and pull cords. Wheel size can be an important factor, since larger wheels can make it easier to deal with uneven terrain. Cutting width also varies, generally between 20 and 22 inches. A larger cutting width can reduce the time it takes to mow a large lawn, while a mower with a smaller cutting width can be more easily maneuverable.

Weight is an important consideration for push mowers, since it can have an impact on how easy the mower is to move. This is particularly important if the lawn will take a while to mow, since what seems light at first may be highly uncomfortable after mowing the entire lawn. For electric mowers, the time it takes to recharge the battery can be a good factor to compare. Storage also important, especially since this factor that can be easy to overlook until the mower is purchased and taking up space at home. Check for space saving features like folding or retracting handles. Finally, warranties vary depending on the manufacturer and some retailers may offer additional guarantees. Be sure to check what is covered and for how long before making the final purchase.

Manual reel mowers are the least expensive lawn mowing option, with most models ranging from around $80 to $200. There are also more expensive versions which are generally used for commercial applications such as maintaining golf courses.

Prices for either electric or gas powered push mowers range from around $120 to $500, and mulching mowers can be found throughout that price range.

Self propelled mowers are somewhat more expensive, with models from around $250 to over $1000 depending on the features included.

Riding mowers are the most expensive option, starting around $1500 and ranging up to $5000 or more.

Black & Decker
Craftsman
Husqvarna
Lawn Boy
Poulan
Toro