Choosing A Lawn Mower - Things To Consider
So your old lawn mower just doesn’t cut it anymore (pun intended) and you’ve decided it’s time for a new one. But how do you go about choosing a lawn mower? Start by knowing exactly what you need.
While there are many factors involved in the decision, start by looking at the big three. Look at the size of your yard, what features you want or need, and the quality of engine you require.
Start by figuring out if a walk behind mower will do, or if you need a riding mower. A general rule of thumb would be if your yard is less than 0.75 acres, a walk behind will do just fine. These are the most popular mowers. If your yard is flat and small, there won’t be much need for extra features. However if your yard has lots of rough terrain and is over 0.5 acres, look seriously at a self propelled mower. These mowers essentially do much of the work for you. They more forward on their own. You simply stand behind the mower and guide it on it’s path.
Now you need to look at the mower deck and the engine power. A wider deck means you cut more grass at one time. The result is fewer trips across the yard. If you add a powerful motor into the mix, mowing will become even faster and easier. But don’t get too caught up in getting more power and a wider deck then you need. You’ll basically be spending more money for nothing if you don’t match the mower with the yard.
The terrain and slope of the yard should also determine what size your rear wheels should be. Generally standard size wheels are OK. But on a hilly yard, getting a mower with larger wheels will make mowing easier.
Now if your yard is over 0.75 acres, then a riding mower might be a better choice for you. Again, use the same rules to determine what size deck and how powerful an engine you need. If you’re mowing several acres, get a larger engine and a wider deck. But again, don’t waste your cash by over doing it.
If you have lots of trees, shrubs and other landscape features, then consider a zero turn radius mower. With these you can basically cut in a circle without moving or leaving a space in the middle. They’re ideal for going around trees. But if you don’t have much landscaping, then save your money or use it on features you will need.
The last big decision to make is if you want a mulching lawn mower. These mowers will use specially designed blades to continually chop up the grass into very small fragments. These are returned to the soil where they will provide a natural fertilizer when they decompose. If you don’t want to mulch, you’ll need to bag the grass. This means catching the clippings and throwing them out.
Naturally there are plenty of other choices to make. Do you want an electric mower, one with a cord or without? Do you want one of the new solar powered or robotic mowers? Start by answering the basic questions first, then when you head to the dealer or look online, choosing a lawn mower will be a much easier task.