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A quality mower is something every gardener needs to keep a well-maintained lawn. Whether it’s a push, self-propelled, or riding mower, this is not a tool you want to go cheap on. There are dozens of mowers on the market. So we will explain the types of mowers to choose from and what to look for when buying.
Push Mowers or standard walk-behind mowers require you to provide the drive or push power. Reel or manual power mowers are included in this category. Both mowers work best on level yards.
Advantages:
- Less maintenance
- Gives you control over your pace
- Provides more exercise
- Weighs less
- Can be more economical
Disadvantages:
- Requires more effort and manual labor
- It may take longer to mow
Self-Propelled Mowers have a motor that drives or propels the mower. Most models have a control to adjust the mower’s speed. While self-propelled mowers also cut well on level lawns, they are best for hilly landscapes.
Advantages:
- Requires less effort
- Can allow faster mowing
- Go up to four miles per hour depending on engine size and power
- Come in front, rear, or all-wheel drive
Disadvantages:
- Cost more
- Requires maintenance
- Weighs more
Both push and self-propelled mowers are best for yards ½ acre or less. They are available in gas, corded, and battery-powered models. As with all other tools with varying power options, corded and cordless models will have more limitations than gas models. So the mower best for you depends on the size of your yard and terrain.
As yard size increases, a corded mower becomes unsuitable. Corded mowers are generally best for a ¼ acre or less. Battery and gas models are best for a ¼ acre up to 1 acre. Riding and gas mowers are the best options for lawns greater than 1 acre.
Other features to consider with push and self-propelled mowers are whether your landscape is hilly, level, uneven, and/or has obstacles that need navigating. Front-wheel drive is best for level even yards and for maneuvering around obstacles. Rear-wheel drive is better for hills and uneven landscapes because the mower has traction at the center to help navigate hills. All-wheel drive mowers are also good for hilly terrains because there is power in the front and back wheels.
Riding Mowers are best for lawns ¾ acre or more. There are tractor or zero-turn mowers available. Tractors operate like a car with a steering wheel and can use more attachments to haul materials, spread seeds, aerate, and more. Zero-turn mowers are better for maneuvering around obstacles, are faster, and have a better turn radius than tractors. Both models come in gas or battery power and are available in manual and automatic transmissions.
Riding mowers offer similar features as push and self-propelled mowers, like engine horsepower, engine displacement, engine torque, bagging, and mulching options. These features and options are covered below.
Additional Features and Options to Consider:
- All Models:
- Engine horsepower is the amount of power available to share among the mower components like the blades and transmission.
- Blade brakes keep the mower running, but the blade stops so the mower bag can be emptied or other tasks completed.
- Engine torque is the amount of force needed to keep the blades spinning. The higher the torque, the better the cut the mower provides in tall, thick grass.
- Engine displacement is the size of the cylinder in a gas motor. It’s measured in cubic centimeters (cc). Engines are more powerful when ccs are higher. This enables the mower to handle heavier cutting.
- Cutting deck size determines the width or how many passes it takes to cut an area.
- Height adjustable levers allow you to adjust the level of the mower. This will determine how tall the grass is.
- A mulching mower allows the blade to cut clippings into smaller pieces that fall onto the lawn. This adds nutrients to the soil.
- Bagging mowers remove clippings and can pick up leaves. This gives a clean look to your yard. But emptying may add time to your lawn care.
- Battery-powered models have voltage as a measurement of power. The higher the voltage, the more power available for the tool.
- Push and Self-Propel Mowers
- Large rear wheels make maneuvering the mower easier.
- Gas models offer push or electric starts to make it easier than pull-starts.
- Riding Models
- Optional features like cup holders, lumbar support, high-back seats, armrests, and added leg room help reduce fatigue and add comfort.
- Tractor models have a varying turning radius. The smaller the radius, the tighter or shaper the turn is to allow better navigation of flower beds and obstacles.