Selecting a Lawnmower

Invented in 1830, the original lawnmower would be recognizable to day. The same basic parts were in place at the beginning. Though not gas or electrically powered, the twisted set of blades did an admirable job of keeping grass low. The reel mower was a welcomed replacement for hand scythes, though of course it took a while to catch on.

Now, lawnmowers are everywhere. More often rotary today, they still cut the grass to within an inch or four in height and are usually gas powered. But beyond that, choosing a good one takes some research.

Walk Behind Lawnmowers

Acquire a few brochures or check out the websites of the brand you're considering. Find out what their failure or replacement rates are and how often they have to be maintained. Manufacturers differ. Some have engines that almost never need tuning and oil replacement may be needed rarely.

Lawn care professionals often use a type of reel mower that shoots cuttings out the front, leaving a fine mulch. The result can be a golf green smooth lawn. But they're more expensive. However, if you have a very dense, short blade grass such as Bermuda or St. Augustine they're worth investigating.

The more common type is the power rotary, invented in 1939. The push-type will typically be about $100 less than the self-propelled variety. For most lawns they will do a fine job and the extra money for a self-propelled type may not be justified.

Self-propelled lawnmowers will save a lot of pushing effort, but they still have to be turned so the benefits are limited. The amount of turning can be so frequent that having the mower propel itself saves only moderate effort, in some cases. Whether the extra cost and potential maintenance issues are worthwhile is a matter of personal taste and reliability or reputation.

Consider the type of lawn you have and whether you want to pick up grass or leave it down for mulch. Even today many are designed as if the engineer never used one. Whether the bag should be in back or the side depends to some degree on preference. But much depends on the size and shape of your lawn. A wide open area can accommodate a side bag easily, but that's less common today.

Rear bags will typically hold more clippings, but that can mean pushing a heavier mower as it fills up. Side-bag units are often lighter and less expensive. When considering which to buy, try to test out removing the bag and replacing it to see how easy or difficult the task is. Apart from the effort, this also gives you a clue to whether the manufacturer has used solid quality parts.

Once the plastic components of a bag are broken, replacement is usually your only option. Bag replacements are not cheap and sometimes impossible to find a year after the initial purchase. Here again, the final choice is a matter of preference.

Check out the blade and other metal parts. Steel costs less, but rusts more readily. Aluminum doesn't rust so readily, though it does oxidize this is less of a problem here. Some modern decks on which the motor sits are heavy duty plastic polymers and very sturdy.

Select carefully and your lawnmower could last 10 years or more. Given the high cost of a mower, it's worth the effort to do some homework before purchasing.

Tractor or Rider Mowers

Sooner or later, anyone who has to mow the lawn every week or two for several months will begin to long for a ridable mower. These small tractor-style units are a true blessing for anyone with a 1/4 acre or more to keep neat.

Electric models are available, just as they are in standard push mowers. The batteries are sturdy and you can generally get a 1/2 acre or more mowed before recharging is required. They're quiet and don't produce any fumes. But they don't have the power of gasoline-powered tractor mowers and can get stuck in thick brushy areas.

Some models have reel blades that shoot cuttings out the front, but those are usually designed for professional lawn care specialists. If you don't have a golf link to mow, the rotary type is for you. The mowing blades are usually below the deck on which the seat resides, which does produce a bit of vibration. But a good soft seat will minimize that to well below an acceptable level.

The smaller types are often called 'riding mowers', but the design is essentially the same. The difference is often just in physical size and horsepower of the engine. More horsepower is usually better, but efficiency comes into play. If you have a well built model, it doesn't require as much horsepower to do the job.

Also, if you have a very smooth, level yard less horsepower is required. Conversely, if your area is hilly with several slopes, more may be required to maintain those. For that, the lawn tractor is the preferred choice.

The engines are in the 10-15 horsepower range which is still considerably less than the 150-300 horsepower range of the typical car engine. In general, you pay more money for those with more horsepower. Be sure you need it before laying out the extra cash.

Prices tend to be higher also for those with wider cutting areas. Lawn tractor blades can range between 38-42 inches (96-107 cm). The wider blade will usually cut more lawn quicker, getting the job done sooner. But keep in mind that the difference is only about 10% and the inaccuracy with which you steer it may more than make up for the difference.

Of course, it's possible to get a garden tractor, with 20 horsepower or more and up to 60 inch mowing blades. Few will need that, but the extra power can be handy if you use it to haul dirt, brush or tree parts around in an attachable trailer. Here again, you'll pay more to get more.

Check out the turning radius on the model you're considering. You may pay more for a very tight, or even zero, radius model, but unless you have areas that are very difficult to navigate the feature probably isn't worth the extra cost.

Sit on a unit, get a feel for the steering mechanism and controls. Ensure that they're within comfortable reach and made from sturdy materials. Lawn tractor or rider mowers can easily cost from a few hundred to $2,000 or more. So, you'll want one that makes the job easy and pleasant, while being reliable for years to come.