Lawn Mowers Buyers Guide

If you live someplace that has a yard, not matter if it is tiny or covers acres of ground, then you will more than likely need to buy a lawn mower. There are lots of kinds of lawn mowers so this guide is going to help you to know which kind is the best for your situation.

Many Factors Determine Lawn Care Needs

When it comes to figuring out what kind of gear you need to take care of your yard, you have to figure in several factors. Some of these include where you live, the size of your yard, the kind of grass, how fast the grass grows, and what kind of terrain you have. Is it level? Is it hilly? These are just a few of the things you have to consider when it comes to choosing and buying a lawn mower.

The other thing to think about is that not all lawn mowers are alike in the way they are operated or how strong it is or other features. Plus, you have to take into consideration how much of a budget you have to spend for a lawn mower, as there are some as cheap as under $100 and others that would cost you thousands of dollars.

Kinds of mowers

When it comes to lawn mower choices you will find many different varieties. The choice for buyers includes gas, as well as electric models. There is the standard walk behind models, as well as different kinds of riding mowers, tractor style mowers and the different sizes of all of the in between mowers. When you get ready to buy a lawn mower you have to take a look at all of these kinds of mowers to figure out which is best for your situation.

Walk Behind Mowers

The walk behind lawn mower offers a versatile choice if you have an average sized yard that doesn’t cover that much ground. It’s the kind that many home owners buy for normal lawn maintenance. You have the option of a gas engine, a batter operated engine or one works with an electric cord. Which one you pick once again is determined by your own situation and preferences.

If you get a gas engine, it is harder to push, so it works best on flat lawns that are smooth and have little to no bumps in the yard. If you have a lawn that takes up less than about a quarter of an acre, this could be the mower of choice for you.

However, if you have more than that amount of space, and the yard is a bit bumpy, then consider one of the self propelled models of lawn mowers. This type produces power to its wheels and you just have to guide it along the yard. And if it is an electric version, it’s usually a lot quieter and it’s more eco friendly since there are no stinky exhaust fumes.

However, the gas mowers are more powerful, so it is a tradeoff that you have to make. Plus, they are limited to the length of their cords, and you always run the risk of cutting the cord by accidently running over it, so these are thing you have to keep in mind. You might then consider a battery operated lawn mower and it doesn’t have a cord to accidently run over and it can cut a yard that is about 3,000 square feet before losing its charge.

What about the grass clippings?

Another thing to consider when choosing a lawn mower is what happens with the grass after it is cut. Some mowers just spit it out the side, some mulch and cut it up into the yard, and some come with special bags to hold the cuttings until you can dump them. Which version you pick is a personal preference, but there are advantages and disadvantages to all of them. For instance, the bagged one is great because you won’t have to rake up all that cut grass and can just either toss it in the compost heap or trash it as desired.

More Powerful Style Mowers

Riding mowers are also popular if you have a large area to mow or perhaps you have mobility issues. They are the most expensive, but you can do acres of property and not have to walk or push a regular mower. They also cut the grass in wider stretches, with a swath that is usually between 28 to 36 inches. Riding mowers are fun to use, but you do have to have a bit of skill to maneuver them in small spaces, or odd shaped patches of ground unless you buy one of the even more pricy zero turning option mowers. These are great because they have a much smaller turning radius, which is a tradeoff for the higher costs.

Even bigger are the lawn tractor models of lawn mowers. These offer 18 to 24 horsepower and a swath that cuts as much as 46 inches. If you have as much as three acres to mow, then this is a great choice and a powerful machine. However, you do have to be very careful, as they are not meant for hills and are not safe to drive there even though they are more stable than a regular riding lawn mower.

Next comes the biggest one, the garden tractor. It comes in up to 27 horsepower and up to a 54 inch cutting swath. It is heavier than a lawn tractor. A great thing about these are that they can be equipped so they are an all season tool by buying things like tillers, snowblowers, or plows. This saves you money from having to buy those items along with the lawn mower.

Whichever of these various kinds of lawn cutting machines that you buy will as stated before, depend on you budget, the size of your lawn and the things you want to be able to do. So, compare the various features of these types of lawn mowers and decide for yourself. Happy lawn cutting!