The Best Lawn Mower: How To Choose The Mower That Is Right For You
I remember when I first bought a lawn mower.
I had my own garden for the first time but at that time I wasnt really interested in gardening and I knew nothing about lawn mowers. All I knew was that I now had some grass and that it needed to be cut.
And I can still remember the feeling of being overwhelmed and utterly confused when I started looking at all the different lawn mower options.
How did I know which lawn mower I should buy? Did I need a cylinder mower, a rotary mower, gas/petrol powered, electric, push or self-propelled? What size did I need? What features should it have? What features could I do without?
Of course that was a long time ago, when lawn mowers were less feature-rich than they are now and before the advent of the internet and the availability of instant information.
But now, if anything, the potential for confusion and overwhelm is probably even greater. So, if you are looking to buy your first mower or upgrading to a new model, its more important than ever to go through a systematic thought process to work out what you need.
Thats what I aim to help you do in this and the related pages on gardeneningstepbystep.com.
Did I go through such a systematic process when I bought my first mower?
Of course I didnt. I was young, impatient and ill-informed.
It took me three attempts to get a lawn mower worth having. Perhaps I can help spare you from a similar waste of time and money.
A word about terminology
Do You Have Any Environmental Restrictions
Petrol driven mowers are obviously noisier that electric models and also produce exhaust emissions. If you have any noise restraints where you are then you may have to go with an electric model.
If you have large lawn that may take longer than an hour to cut, it will be more complex. It that case, youd need to get a cordless model, of the kind where the battery can be removed, and keep at least one spare battery on charge that you can slot in when needed.
Best Cordless: Ego Power+ 56
Corded lawn mowers provide unlimited runtime, but theyre also more cumbersome to use. You constantly have to remain aware of your extension cord. Cordless models, such as the highly-rated EGO POWER+ Cordless Lawn Mower, are easier to operate. This model provides up to 60 minutes of cutting time using a lithium battery, which re-charges in 40 minutes.
This cordless mower has a 20-inch steel deck and a brushless mower that will make quick work of your unruly grass. It starts up quickly via a push button. It has a single-lever, six-position deck-height adjustment. The mower offers 3-in-1 mulching, bagging, and side discharge, and it comes with an easy-access grass bag for collecting the grass clippings.
Certain push mowers can weigh 90 pounds , making them challenging to push around your yard. If youre looking for something lighter, this WORX cordless push mower weighs just 29 pounds, making it significantly easier for all users to manage.
The WORX mower has a 14-inch deck. Its powered by two 20-volt batteries that allow you to mow around an eighth of an acre per charge. Theres a battery indicator light that lets you know exactly how much power is left. The mower has a six-position height adjustment that can be changed with a single lever. Its 2-in-1 abilities let you mulch or bag grass clippings. Overall, the WORX Power Share Walk-Behind Mower is a small, beginner-friendly workhorse thats ideal for smaller yards.
Also Check: How To Bid On Lawn Care Jobs
How Big Is Your Lawn
This will help determine a few things.
First, if your lawn is bigger than can comfortably be reached by an extension lead, you can rule out a corded electric lawn mower.
Second, if your lawn is likely to take more than about an hour of mowing time, a cordless electric model might not work . The batteries on these things are getting better all the time, and I actually rate them pretty highly, but for now, most wont last much more than an hour.
Third, the size of your lawn will have a bearing on whether youll want to buy a push mower or a self-propelled mower. If youve got a lot a lawn to cut, you might lean towards a self-propelled model. That is, unless you particularly want the exercise of pushing.
How Big Is My Yard
Next, consider how much area you need to mow in acres. In the middle ages, an “acre” was used to determine how much land a herd of oxen could plow in a day.
Today, acreage helps you pick the right type of mowing equipment you need for landscaping, laying seed, or even spreading chemicals.
To make it easy, compare the size of your lawn like you would a football field, where a 1-acre lot = 1.25 regulation football fields . Can you imagine trying to push a reel mower through all that grass?
You May Like: How To Kill Wild Violet Weeds In Lawn
Toro Recycler High Wheel Gas Walk Behind Push Lawn Mower
Home Depot
This Toro is a 21-inch push mower that is built around a reliable 140cc Briggs & Stratton motor. Its a budget-smart mower that gives you a lot of power, but dispenses with luxuries for smaller yards.
The motor is easy to start theres no need for a manual choke adjustment, priming or pumping before trying to turn it over, which is a welcome convenience. And since youll be pushing this mower, youll appreciate the enormous 11-inch rear wheels that helps you get traction on rougher terrain and inclines. The deck can be adjusted from 1.25 inches to 3.75 inches in six different positions, but youll need to set height levers separately in front and rear.
It has a few key conveniences. You can quickly switch among mulching, bagging and discharge. Toro includes a bag for clippings. The handle can be set between two different heights with no tools required, and the motor doesnt require any oil changes over the life of the mowerjust check the level and add oil as needed.
Ryobi Rlm13e 33s Electric Corded Mower
Our rating: 5 out of 5
- Orange cable easy to see
Cons
- Noise high pitched
This mower is simple to assemble and simple to use. Its handle folds for storage and can be adjusted to a choice of heights and its light and comfortable to use. There are five cutting heights to choose from, ranging from 20-60mm, and these are easy to change with a simple lever. Its best feature however is a convenient and effective cable relief clip, which keeps the cable tucked safely out of the way while you mow. Though one of the quietest machines on test, the motor on this model is very high-pitched.
Also Check: How Much Does It Cost To Have Your Lawn Rolled
How Long Do Gas Lawn Mowers Last
Gas lawn mowers can last as long as 10 years if you are prepared to maintain them properly. This is significantly longer than electric mowers which normally have a lifespan of around three years. Even after 10 years, a gas mower might still be working just fine but if anything breaks, it can often cost more to repair a 10 year plus old mower than its really worth.
Best For Large Yards: Ego Power+ Select Cut Self
If you’re working with a large yard, you might consider the EGO Power+ Select Cut . This cordless walk-behind lawn mower runs on an advanced lithium fuel-gauge battery, offering over an hour of grass cutting on a full charge.
It’s even more powerful than gas mowers and is easy to control, thanks to the brand’s Touch Drive Technology. Additionally, it has an innovative cutting system with three interchangeable blades.
Don’t Miss: How To Clean Lawn Mower Carburetor
Best Gas Lawn Mowers 2021
BySophie Bird02 September 2021
Check out the best gas lawn mowers to make cutting your lawn easy, with push and self-propelled options available.
Introducing the best gas lawn mowers on the market right now. In our buying guide below youll find a huge selection of the top-rated gas lawn mowers money can buy from well known brands like Craftsman, Toro and Honda. Plus, weve included a variety of different gas lawn mowers that all start at different prices to ensure theres a gas lawn mower for every yard.
Investing in one of the best gas lawn mowers will slash your average mow time. We say this because these devices are crafted with power in mind. Generally speaking, the top-rated mowers are fitted with an engine of at least
200cc. This makes them particularly brilliant for those who are blessed with big backyards or thick grass. Many of the most talked about gas lawn mowers are also kitted out with a twin cutting blade, to help maintain a neat and tidy lawn all year round.
While some models that are featured in our guide have a self-propelled design. This design function means the mower propels itself forward without you having to push it. All you have to do is guide the mower where you would like it to cut. This option is particularly favorable amongst those who have hilly gardens or thick grass. When it comes to choosing the best gas lawn mower for you and your home, also be sure to pay attention to the weight, drive-type, warranty and cutting width.
How To Use A Gas Lawn Mower
Using a gas lawn mower for the first time might feel like an intimidating task, but the top-rated models included in this guide will make it easy for you to integrate your new tool into your gardening routine. The first thing to do is get to grips with your owners manual, where youll find out that one of the most crucial steps is to top up your lawnmower correctly with gas and oil.
Once youve consulted your manual and topped up your mower, its essential that you rid the area of anything that you can see that can jam your mower and damage its parts. Youll also want to start out on flat ground, even if your mower will have to contend with a hilly backyard later in the mowing session.
The way of turning your mower on will depend on the exact model youve got, usually by pulling a cord or turning on an electric key start. Then youll be good to go to work on your backyard.
Recommended Reading: Hot Rock Ecoguard Pet Safe
Which Brand Of Gas Lawn Mower Is Best
This really depends on a number of things and will change from lawn to lawn. For example discovering which brand of gas lawn mower is best will depend on the type of grass you have, how thick it is, how large your garden is and who is using the mower to cut the lawn.
In our guide we have listed the best gas lawn mowers from big name brands such as Honda, Toro, Craftsman and Troy-Bilt. All of which have a detailed and documented history in creating brilliant outdoor power tools that last and provide ultimate cutting results.
Why You Should Trust Us
Over the past eight mowing seasons, weve spent more than 120 hours researching nearly 225 mowers, interviewing experts, and extensively testing some of our top picks.
An invaluable source has been Roy Berendsohn, a Popular Mechanics lawn mower guru who has more than 20 years of experience testing and writing about mowers. If Berendsohn isnt writing about mowers, hes often being interviewed about them .
Weve interviewed landscapers, including Chad Crosby of West Michigan Lawn Services and Paul Koehler of Koehler Landscape Construction Services. Weve called people at lawn mower retail/service outlets, like Nick Ortiz at Kellam Lawn Mower in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, and Boston Lawnmower Companys David . Weve talked to product managers at Honda, Toro, Troy-Bilt, Ego, Cub Cadet, and other manufacturers.
Personally, I maintain a rural property in New Hampshire that is far too large for a push mower to cover but that does provide ample room to test our recommendations. This guides editor, Harry Sawyers, assists with testing mowers on his LA property and draws from his previous experience as a professional landscaper.
Read Also: How To Revive Brown Lawn
Flaws But Not Dealbreakers
Although the two-handed self-propulsion control is a more convenient setup than the one-handed paddle design seen on competitors, it does make accidentally engaging the self-propulsion a little too easy. Usually this isnt an issue, but often the moments when youre grasping to get a better grip on the handle are the times you least want to engage the self-propulsion. For example, if you are mowing across a hill, theres a brief moment during a turnaround when the mower is pointing up or down the hill. When adjusting your grip to make those turns, you may inadvertently tap the throttle, destabilizing your stance or your grip on the mower. If anyone from Egos reading this, theyll probably say were mowing on too steep a hill, but hey, sometimes life throws a steep hill at you.
We think that the hour or so of run time is going to be enough for anyone keeping to about a half-acre, but if thats not enough, additional batteries are available to extend run time infinitely. But batteries are costly. Depending on the Ah, they currently range in price from about $140 to about $250 , and up to about $450 for a 7.5 Ah battery. They all fit, and with a second one on the charger while one is on the mower, you can really minimize or eliminate downtime.
Why Briggs & Stratton
For over 110 years, Briggs & Stratton has been dedicated to creating powerful, easy-to-use engines to make your lives easier. Innovations have been our focus, and today were bringing you new, groundbreaking engine technology. View some of our push and riding mower innovations below.
No Prime. No Choke. No Worries. Just pull for Power.
Recommended Reading: When To Fertilize Lawn In Iowa
Who This Is For
If you want to be able to stand the sight of your yard this summer, youre going to need a lawn mower. Anything larger than a half-acre gets into riding-mower territory, but a self-propelled push mower is perfect for a half-acre or less. Going at a pace of about 3 mph , it will take about an hour to cut this amount of grass.
If you already own a gas mower thats less than a decade old, you will probably not notice a tremendous difference by upgrading to a newer gas mower. Upgrading to a cordless model is a more noticeable change you could immediately appreciate.
The Original Cordless Mower
-
After 30 hours researching and testing reel mowers, we think the Scotts 2000-20 20-Inch Classic Push Reel Lawn Mower is the best pick for manual lawncare.
What Different Types Of Ride
You might remember the tractor-style ride-on mower from shows like King of the Hill or Home Improvement. This is the most common type of ride-on lawn mower available. These are typically suitable for properties around 4,000 square metres or bigger, particularly those with few trees or obstructions like garden beds.
Tractor-style ride-on mowers are controlled by a steering wheel and pads and can be automatic or manual transmission.
These mowers can be further divided into lawn and garden types. Lawn ride-on mowers are smaller, more agile and more likely to be able to navigate through tight spaces, while garden ride-on mowers are powerful, with bigger cutting widths for larger jobs.
Your other option is a ride-on lawn mower with a zero-turn radius, which work a little differently to your standard ride-on mower. Zero-turn radius lawn mowers are controlled with left-right steer-drive handles. The controls take a little getting used to, but they also offer great manoeuvrability which can be better for trickier jobs.
Recommended Reading: How To Change Oil In Craftsman Lawn Mower
Lawn Mower Key Features
When you are looking to decide on the best lawn mower for your needs, there are certain key features youll need to have regard to get the mower you can.
Some of these features are common to all types of lawn mowers and some are particular to the individual lawn mower types .
In this section, Ill take a close look at the key features that are common to most types of lawn mower.
Evaluate Your Personal Schedule
Of course, perhaps most importantly, consider your own schedule and lifestyle:
- Do you consider mowing the grass an enjoyable opportunity for exercise? If so, a self-propelled walk mower or push mower is the obvious choice.
- Do you have plenty of spare time to mow the lawn, as well as engage in other outdoor projects? Riding mowers offer great versatility.
- Are you a lawn fanatic who loves having perfect stripes in the grass? Zero-turn mowers are trusted by professionals for a reason.
- Would you rather spend your time working in the garden or doing something around the house? Look no further than robotic lawn mowers.
: When choosing a lawn mower, its important to consider yard size and features, mower features, and your personal schedule.Regardless of what you choose, Husqvarna is ready to support you and the green spaces you call home. For professional lawn care providers, Husqvarna also offer a full lineup for commercial lawn mowers.
Recommended Reading: Best Time To Water Grass In Colorado
