Buying Guide to Lawn Mowers

Is the grass outside on your lawn getting out of control? If you are anything like me, then the answer is probably yes. So it’s obviously time for you to get a new lawn mower. Therein lies the problem for most people. A lot of times when shopping, people will only look at the price and think one of two things. Either they will be looking to spend as little as possible and trying to save money, or they will blindly purchase the most expensive model out there because of the misconception that price = quality. I’m here to right that wrong, people. In this guide I will be giving you tips on how to find the right lawn mower, what type of features you need depending on your needs, and some models that I think are at the top of the heap.

Features to Look For

You cannot neccessarily look at either price or brand solely when looking for a lawn mower. They can be good indicators, but they alone will not guide you in the right direction. You should definitely look for lawn mowers that possess more than a reasonable price or a good name. Some factors to consider and some features to look out for:

-Know the different types of lawn mowers. First of all you need to decide whether you want a petrol or electic mower. A petrol mower is one that runs on oil and gasoline. They both operate about the same, however there are two types of electic lawn mowers that you should look for. There are the corded ones which need to remain plugged in whenever you use it and a cordless one that runs on rechargable batteries.
-Size of your lawn. If you have a large lawn, anything more than 3/4 of an acre, then you should consider a lawn tractor. Those are large yards that will be difficult to push a mower around. Anything down to 1/2 and acre should have a higher horsepower than normal cause you will be dealing with an intermediate sized lawn. something bigger than the 20″ range. Any lawn smaller than that can do fine with a 20″ mower.

-Push mowers are good for those people looking for a simple way to mow the lawn and don’t mind a little physical activity when doing so. You’ll benefit with exercise and a good level of self-satisfaction at having done it yourself. Of course, if you have a large lawn with no hope for a pusher, you can get a riding lawn mower that you can sit down and take around the yard at your own pace.

-How the mower collects the clippings. Some of you might prefer the bag method, but that’s advised for smaller lawns or people who don’t mind having to empty the bag out fairly often. You can also get mulchers that take your clippings and cuts them small so that they revitalize the grass and fertilize your lawn. Others prefer side discharge mowers, which shoot the clippings out the side of the mower and back onto the lawn, recommended for tall grass.

Now that you’ve seen some of the different things to consider or look out for, let me show you some of the best push mower models out there today, since most of our lawns don’t require a riding mower to do the job.

The Models to Watch

Troy-BiltÃ?® 6.75 HP 21″ Cut Self-Propelled High Wheel Rear Bag Mulching Mower with Z-Start/ReadyStart Engine

Suggested Retail: $299 (Lowes.com)

Notes: When I was doing my research, it was one of my favorites for a number of reasons. First, what a cool long name for a mower. Seriously, though, this mower has a llot of features that made it appeal to me. One of the first things that I noticed was that although it was a mulcher, it also still have a catcher and didn’t just disperse the clippings back onto the grass. I wanted to be able to do that myself, and that would be possible with that mower. The motor has variable speed settings, so it’s adjustable and can provide you with improved control around your lawn and more comfort. Pretty standard everywhere else across the board, but the 12″ rear wheels are great for maneuvering the mower around different terrains.

Craftsman 6.75 hp 22 in. Deck 3-in-1 Bagging-Mulching-Side Discharge Rear Bag Mower

Suggested Retail: $350 (sears.com)

Notes: Another of the stronger push models, this Craftsman is a 3-in-1. It bags, mulches, or can throw it out the side. Versatility is never a bad thing, people. Much like the Troy Bilt, the varitable speed system allows you to control the pace, not hte other way around. Who wants to be dragged across the lawn by an out of control mower, anyways? While also reading about it, this mower has what Craftsman calls the Z Start, which supposedly makes it 30% easier to pull the start cord. That sounds like a good technology to me. It also has an adjustable extending height that allows you to change the height of the rotor from 1 1/2″ to 5″. Lastly, as with the Troy Bilt, it also possesses 12″ rear wheels with a little more swivel action, allowing for more flexibility from this mower.

Husqvarna 7 hp 21 in. Deck 3-in-1 Bagging-Mulching-Side Discharge Rear Bag Mower

Suggested Retail: $340 (sears.com)

Notes: A little bit stronger than the previous two, this Husqvarna model is another in the 3-in-1 models. I seem to prefer those because they are able to do just the job you are looking for. They are a bit pricy, but definitely worth it if you are serious about lawn care and not just looking to cut the grass. One thing that was pointed out about this model that I haven’t heard form the others is an adjustable handle position, allowing you to adjust to the size and strength of the person operating the mower. This machine is rear propelled, as opposed to the other two which are front propelled. This makes the Husqvarna more prepared for different terrains. It has varitable speed but also used auto walk, which can be useful when you want to take it easy for a stretch while mowing the lawn.