Lawn Mowers
If you have a lawn and
you don’t want to pay someone to cut
the grass for you, you’ll need a lawn mower. There’s
a lot of choice though, so just what
is available, and what is best for your needs?
Types of Lawnmowers
Lawnmowers range from people powered reel mowers to ride on
mini tractors. There are electric mowers, both mains and battery
powered, gasoline
powered reel mowers, gas powered
rotary blade mowers in two and four stroke, self propelled gas mowers,
and then
for the person on large blocks there are the riding mowers.
You even get hover mowers
that do as the name says. They
don’t have wheels, but hover on a cushion of air.
Manual Push Mowers
If you have a small lawn and feel like some exercise, the manual
push mower will do the job. In fact when I was growing up several
decades ago
the manual reel mower was a common sight, and I spent some time pushing
one
myself.
Electric Mowers
If you’re not quite so
active an electric model may be the
way to go. They’re
quiet; have an
instant start and electric lawn mowers are more environmentally
friendly than
gas powered models. If you get a mains powered one you can only cut as
far as
the power cord will let you and you need to be aware of the lead. You
don’t
want to run over it. Battery powered models will let you get further
away, and
they’re best for yards under 1/3 acre, and shorter grass. Batteries
typically
last 45 minutes to one hour. Check the specs before you buy to make
sure it
will do the job.
Gasoline Push Lawn Mowers
Gas powered lawn mowers are suitable for bigger yards and
longer grass. They cost more to run than electric models and take more
to
maintain to keep in good running order. They’re also a lot noisier. You
really need to use hearing protection with them. And
they’re polluting. Even a modern lawn
mower that’s built to meet the latest
EPA
standards pollute more than a car. But, for a larger suburban block
they are
often the best choice.
Gas Self Propelled Lawn Mowers
For larger yards still self propelled lawn mowers are a good
choice. They can handle inclines, and are suitable for mowing up to
half an
acre. Having said that, I used to mow my half acre with a push type gas
mower,
but it was a chore.
 Riding Mowers and Garden Tractors
When you get over half an acre a riding mower makes it easy.
The bigger the yard you have, the bigger the riding mower you need.
Wider cuts
means less time mowing the lawn. For over three acres you’re better off
looking
for a garden tractor. The garden tractor can also be used for other
work such
as pulling a plow or tiller or other accessories.
Looking After Yourself And Your Mower
Whatever
type of lawn mower you choose, make sure you familiarize
yourself with the safety, operating, and maintenance
instructions. Your mower will operate better and last longer if you
treat it
right.
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