When choosing a lawnmower take into consideration the size and type of lawn you have. Also keep in mind any slopes or hills that might need to be mowed. By choosing the appropriate lawnmower your job will be that much easier.
Types of Lawnmowers
Lawnmowers come in two basic types: reel and rotary. Reel lawnmowers have horizontally attached blades. This type of lawnmower cuts the blades of grass like a scissor. Most reel lawnmowers are manual although there are some motorized versions.
Rotary lawnmowers run on gas, solar power , or electricity. These lawnmowers can be rideable, self propelled, or require manual pushing. Some of these rotary lawnmowers have a mulching feature. The blades on this lawnmower spin horizontally.
Lawnmower Features
When deciding which lawnmower is best for you look at the lawnmower’s features such as power, starter, blades and safety.
The power of a lawnmower engine can range from 3-8 horsepower. Mulching lawnmowers work most effectively at 5 horsepower or more.
Lawnmowers come in 2 different types of starters. The pull starter requires physical strength. It can take quite a lot of muscle power to get this type of lawnmower started. The auto starter lawnmowers will rev up at the push of a button. These types of lawnmowers require no physical strength.
Lawnmower blades can either mulch or cut grass in a more traditional manner. Traditional lawnmower blades will cut the grass only once and leave it on top of the lawn or toss it into a grass clipping bag. Blades that mulch will actually suspend the grass and cut it into a fine texture. This grass mulch then gets blown back onto your lawn where it acts as fertilizer.
Lawnmowers can be very dangerous if operated incorrectly. You can purchase a lawnmower with a blade brake clutch. When you pull the clutch the blade will spin. When the clutch is released the lawnmower blade stops spinning but the engine keeps running. This way you can safely remove obstacles you see in your path without having to re-start your lawnmower.
Rotary lawnmowers are good for small and medium sized lawns. The self pushing rotary lawnmower is great for hills. For large lawns the riding lawn mower works best.
Lawnmowers can be electric and solar as well as gas. Electric and solar lawnmowers are limited by theamount of power they can hold. In addition the cord on the electric lawnmower can get in the way. Gas lawnmowers, while easier and longer lasting than electric or solar lawnmowers, require more upkeep and maintenance.
Reel lawnmowers come in manual or gas powered. The manual reel lawnmower is cheap, non-polluting and low maintenance. However it does not cut weeds very effectively, only cuts grass 2 inches high and requires a lot of physical exertion. The gas reel lawnmower is also inexpensive to purchase and is very low maintenance. But it does not do well on eliminating weeds, cuts the grass to 2 inches hight, is noisy, and requires routing maintenance.
Rotary lawnmowers come in gas push, electric push, solar push, and riding. Gas push lawnmowers are in the medium price range and can cut grass up to 3 inches high. They do not mulch. In addition they are noisy and pollute the atmosphere and require regular maintenance. The electric push lawnmower is also moderatey priced and cuts the grass to 3 inches. It does not mulch, requires a lot of maintenance, and the cord can get in the way. The solar push lawnmower is quiet and non-polluting. It is very easy to start and cuts the grass evenly. Unfortunately the solar push lawnmower will only run a few hours before it needs to be recharged. This type is lawnmower is also expensive. The riding lawnmower does well for large lawns, requires very little physical exertion and has the most power. These lawnmowers are expensive, require a lot of maintenance, and can tip over on hills.
Mulch lawnmowers come in gas and electric. The gas lawnmower mulches clippings into your lawn. It is very low maintenance. It is more expensive than rotary lawn mowers, noisy, polluting and requires a lot of maintenance. The electric mulch lawnmower is not polluting, also mulches clippings into the lawn and requires low maintenance. It has less power than the gas mulching lawnmower and will only work for a few hours before its battery needs recharging.
When to Purchase a Lawnmower
The best time to purchase a lawnmower is in the fall at the end of the growing season. Many gardening retail stores are trying to get rid of their stock so you should be able to find a good mower on sale. Don’t count out used lawnmowers. Check out you local classifieds for good deals.