How to Pick a Lawn Mower

A Guide for Choosing Your New Lawn Mower

Looking for a lawn mower that will meet all of your needs? This blog post will show you how to pick a lawn mower.

You will not find a list of lawn mower models you can choose. You will find the information to pick the lawn mower that is right for you.

Consider your budget. Do you want a high-quality machine that will last, or are you looking for something cheaper that will do the job?

Consider your needs. What type of lawn do you have? Is it flat, hilly, or somewhere in between? You need to choose a machine that is designed for this specific type of terrain.

Think about what features you need. Let’s get started.

When Buying a Lawn Mower You Need to Know your budget

When it comes time to buy a lawn mower, there are a few things you need to take into account. The first is what your budget is. There are lawn mowers for all different price points. You don’t have to break the bank to get a good one.

Some features are good to have depending on your unique needs. These features will usually raise the price of the mower. Take your budget into consideration when adding features.

The Size of Your Yard is Another Factor in Selecting a Lawn Mower

But before making a purchase, one factor you must consider is the size of your yard. If you have a small yard, then you don’t need a big and powerful lawn mower. A smaller model will do the job just fine. In contrast, if you have a large yard, then you’ll need a more powerful machine.

Once you know the size of your yard and your budget, it will be easier to select the right lawn mower for your needs.

You also need to think about is what kind of terrain you will be mowing. If you have a lot of hills or trees, then you will need a different type of lawn mower than someone who lives on a flat piece of land.

Do you want a lawn mower that you Push or Ride?

Generally, if your yard is less than 1/4 of an acre, you probably don’t need a riding lawn mower. If your lawn is larger, having a riding mower will make the job much easier. A push mower is best suited to flat lawns. With the self-propelled feature, you can tackle a hilly yard with ease.

Which is better for lawn mower power Gas or Electric?

This question used to be easy. Gas powered mowers were the best choice by far. Battery powered mowers had very poor performance. Corded electric mowers required a very long extension cord to operate, and the electrical shock hazard was always present.

Now, battery technology has improved to where battery powered riding mowers are available that can mow approximately 2 acres on a single charge.

A corded electric mower equipped with a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) eliminates the shock hazard. You still have to deal with the extension cord, though.

Gas powered engines are still the most popular choice, but with the concern over emissions, battery powered mowers are gaining ground.

Selecting Your Features

Again, Think about Lawn Size When Selecting Your Features

A big item on the list when picking a lawn mower is the size of your lawn. A large yard, over 1/4 acre, is enough to justify a riding mower. If your yard is over an acre, you shouldn’t get a low end riding mower.

Smaller yards mean you have plenty of options to choose from when picking a lawn mower. You can get a push mower, a self-propelled mower. They can be powered by gas or electricity.

Your choice boils down to your own personal preferences.

Push Mowers vs Self-Propelled Mowers

Push mowers are cheaper and lighter than self-propelled mowers, but they require more effort to use.

Self-propelled mowers are more expensive and heavier than push mowers, but they are easier to use.

Be aware that self-propelled mowers and push mowers are classified as push mowers. If you want a self-propelled model, make sure that is one of the features.

Gas Push Mowers

Gas push mowers are a more powerful and durable option than electric ones. They have a larger engine, which makes them perfect for taller or thicker grass. Gas push mowers also mulch better than electric ones, meaning you won’t have to spend time raking up the clippings.

Electric Push Mowers

Electric push mowers are a good choice for small to medium-sized yards. They are easy to operate and don’t require any gasoline or oil. Electric mowers are also quieter than gas-powered models, making them a good choice if you have noise restrictions in your neighborhood.

Common Features of push mowers

Bag Attachment

The bag attachment allows the user to collect the clippings from the lawn so they don’t have to rake them up later. Most push mowers have a bag that can be easily attached and detached from the mower. The bag attachment is usually made of plastic or fabric.

Mulching Capabilities

If you prefer not to bag your grass clippings and leaves, you might want to look for a model that can mulch leaves and grass clippings. Most models come with built-in mulching blades that chop up leaves and grass clippings into tiny pieces before spitting them back out onto the lawn.

Mulching doesn’t take nutrients away from the lawn like bagging does. And it doesn’t leave piles of grass clippings to die on the lawn like a side discharge mower does.

Single Point Height Adjustment

All mowers can adjust the height of the mowing deck at each wheel. A popular feature being offered on some models is the single point height adjustment. This allows you to adjust the height of the mowing deck from a single point instead of changing the height at each wheel.

Electric Start

One common feature of many push mowers is electric start. This allows the user to start the engine with the touch of a button, rather than having to pull on a cord. This can be especially helpful for those who have difficulty starting engines manually.

Stop Blade Without Restarting

Some mowers are designed in a way that you can stop the blade while the engine is still running. This is beneficial because it allows the user to move the mower across an area they don’t want to mow without having to stop and restart the engine. For example, if you have a gravel path to cross, you can disengage the blade to cross.

Riding Mowers

Mowing your lawn is a weekly chore for many people, but it doesn’t have to be a daunting task. In fact, there are several benefits of riding mowers that can make the job much easier and faster.

For starters, riding mowers allow you to cover more ground in less time. They’re also much easier on your back and knees than walking behind a traditional lawn mower.

They are perfect for large yards that need to be mowed regularly. Riding mowers are more comfortable to operate than walk-behind mowers, which can be tiring to use over time. They are also faster and more efficient than walk-behind mowers, so you can cover more ground in less time.

Traditional Riding Mower – Engine in the Front

When most people think of a riding lawn mower, they picture the traditional type with the engine in the front. This design has been around for many years and is still popular today. The front-engine riding mower is ideal for mowing large areas of grass, as it can cover more ground in less time. It is also a good choice for homeowners with hilly yards, as it can navigate easily over bumps and inclines.

Traditional Riding Mower – Engine in the Back

Some models of riding mowers have the engine in the back. This type of mower has been around for many years and is still popular today. One benefit of a traditional riding mower with the engine in the back, is that it helps to keep the weight of the mower evenly distributed. This prevents the front from getting too heavy and makes it easier to steer.

Also, with the engine in the back, you don’t have the heat and exhaust fumes hitting you in the face while you’re mowing.

Zero Turn Riding Mower

Zero turn riding mowers are the perfect choice for anyone who wants a lawn that looks professionally mowed without having to spend the time or money to hire a professional.

These mowers make turning on a dime so easy that you can easily create crisp, clean lines around obstacles like trees and flower beds. They’re also great for getting into tight spaces where other riding mowers would have trouble maneuvering.

Electric Riding Mower

Electric riding mowers are the future of lawn care. They are eco-friendly, easy to operate, and save you time and money. They are also great for people with disabilities who may not be able to push a regular mower.

Electric riding mowers are quiet and emit no pollutants, so they are perfect for people who want to do their part in preserving the environment.

Electric lawn mowers come in a traditional engine in the back models and zero turn models.

Reel Mowers – the Original Cordless Mower

Reel mowers are the original cordless mower, and they’re making a comeback. They don’t require gas or electricity, so they’re environmentally friendly and cost-effective. Reel mowers are easy to operate and don’t produce noise or emissions.

Reel mowers require effort from you to propel them through the grass. If you hit a stick, it could stop the mower. Also, they don’t do well in very tall grass.

But, they are cheap and don’t require a lot of maintenance.

Robotic Lawn Mowers

Robotic lawn mowers are the wave of the future for people who want a perfectly cut lawn without having to do the work themselves. These machines can be programmed to cut your lawn at specific times and heights, so you never have to worry about over- or under-cutting your grass again.

They are also much quieter than traditional gas-powered lawn mowers, so you can use them any time of day without disturbing your neighbors.

Handling Grass Clippings

Bagging and Composting

Grass clippings are a valuable resource for the home gardener. Not only are they free, but they also provide nutrients and organic matter to the soil. Composting is an environmentally friendly way to dispose of them.

DIY composting

Composting is the process of breaking down organic matter into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. You can create your own compost pile in your backyard, or purchase a composter to make the process easier. Composting is a great way to recycle food scraps and yard waste, and it’s also beneficial for the environment.

Composting Pickup Service

When most people think of composting, they think of doing it themselves in their backyard. While this is a great way to compost, it’s not the only way. There are now services that will pick up your compostable materials and take them away to be composted. This can be a great option for those who don’t want to deal with a compost bin in their backyard. These services can also be helpful for businesses that produce a lot of compostable waste.

Mulching

Mulching lawn clippings is a great way to handle them and keep your yard looking neat. Not only does it help the environment by keeping the clippings out of landfills, but it can also help your lawn to stay healthy and looking good. Mulching simply means to chop up the clippings finely and spread them back over the lawn. This can be done with a mulching mower.

Side Discharge Mower

Grass clippings that are discharged from a side discharge mower are the least desirable way to handle them. When grass is blown out a side discharge, it will lie on top of the lawn and dry out, causing ugly brown grass clippings. Or worse, if the grass is wet or very tall, the clippings will come out in clumps that can actually kill the grass underneath it.

However, more powerful mowers cut the clippings finely enough and discharge them over a greater distance that there isn’t usually an issue.

Mower Maintenance

Springtime is the perfect time to get your lawn mower ready for summer. Or you can wait until the summer is over and do all the maintenance tasks then. Here are some tips to help you get started:

General Inspection

Check all the belts and cables for wear and tear, and replace them if necessary.

Spark plug

Use only the spark plug recommended by the manufacturer for your mower model.

Changing the spark plug frequently (every couple of years) will ensure your mower will start when you need it.

Air filter

The air filter keeps dirt and foreign objects out of the carburetor. It can get clogged with dirt and grass clippings and making it hard for the mower to get enough air. This will make it hard to start and it will run inefficiently.

Air filters are made of a sponge or folded paper. The sponge can be cleaned with gasoline and reinstalled. The folded paper filter needs to be replaced. You should do this at least annually.

Blade sharpening

If the blades on your lawnmower are not sharp, they will not cut the grass as well as they should, which can lead to an unkempt appearance to your lawn. You can sharpen the blades of your lawnmower yourself using a sharpening stone, or you can take them to a professional to have them sharpened.

Oil change

It is important to change the oil in your lawnmower regularly. Dirty oil can lead to engine problems. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for how to change the oil in your specific model of lawnmower.

Gas treatment

Adding a gas treatment to your lawnmower’s fuel tank can help keep the fuel system clean and running smoothly. It will also absorb any water that ends up in your fuel tank.

Spending More on a Lawn Mower Up Front

You may wonder if it is worth spending more money up front for a model with more power and features. After all, doesn’t the most expensive model always mean the best? In some cases, this may be true. However, in the case of lawn mowers, you may find that opting for a more expensive model actually pays off in the long run.

A properly maintained lawn mower should last at least 10 years. You can take the additional cost and divide it by 10 to get the cost per year the feature will actually cost. For example, if a more powerful mower costs $100 more. By dividing $100 by 10 years, the added power will cost you $10 per year.

Don’t Just Take My Word For It!

This blog post has given you basic information about lawn mowers. If you need more information before making a purchase, here are some ideas for more research.

Online Reviews

Customer reviews are helpful because these are people that have already experienced the product. Their recommendations and complaints might steer you away from an inferior product.

• You can find reviews of lawn mowers on the manufacturers’ websites and other online retailers like Amazon.
• However, there will always be select people who have had a bad experience with the product. But that’s inevitable..
• A high number of complaints about the same issue should be a warning sign.

Your Local Dealer

You can also visit your local dealer. Keep in mind, they will be biased toward the brands they sell. You still should be able to get some good advice on which mower to choose.

How to Pick a Lawn Mower – Conclusion

In conclusion, when choosing a lawn mower, there are many important factors to consider. By thinking about the size of your yard, the type of terrain, and your budget, you can find the perfect lawn mower for your needs. Be sure to research different models and read reviews before making your purchase. With the right lawn mower, you can easily keep your yard looking tidy.