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When choosing a lawn mower, one of the most important consideration is lawn size. Lawn size dictates what type of features you need on your lawn mower. And the more features there are, the more expensive the lawn mower is.
Getting the best lawn mower type for your lawn size will also make lawn mowing much more enjoyable and efficient. Remember that lawn mowers are designed with a specific lawn type in mind. It is not necessarily true that getting the lawn mower with the most features will get the job done faster all the time. You might be surprised to find that a modest lawn mower is the most suitable for a small to a medium sized lawn. They are easier to operate, easier to maintain and they get the job done right.
To help you find the best lawn mower for your lawn, here's a run down of the different types of lawn mowers and the lawn conditions that they are best suited for.
1. Reel lawnmowers
Pros:
These are best for small urban lots (less than 500 square feet). These lawn mowers don't house an engine, which means less maintenance to do. Modern design of reel lawn mowers have made them easy to maneuver. They are manually powered, which means you don't need to feed it gas or electricity to run it. No fuel also means no pollution, which makes them an ideal choice for environment conscious homeowners. They also run quietly, which means you don't disturb the peace of the neighborhood while you tend to your lawn.
Cons:
Not advisable for lawns with a lot of trees. The blades are only made to cut grass, and cannot handle twigs or leaves from tress. This can be an important consideration during fall, when leaves are everywhere! Reel lawnmowers are best for trimming grass. If you let your grass grow too high, that could be a real challenge for your machine.
2. Rotary Mowers
Pros:
Rotary mowers are best for medium sized lots (500 square feet up to 1 acre). There's a number of variations to choose from, including battery powered, gas powered, self propelled or manually pushed types. If your lawn is on the smaller end of the spectrum, opt for manually propelled types. For medium to larger lawns in this category, a battery or gas powered lawn mower will allow you to get the job done faster.
Rotary mowers often have attachments for collecting grass clippings, which is important when you have a considerable amount of lawn to mow - less raking to do afterwards. Some types come with special features like mulching capabilities, which can save you a lot of time especially when you have a considerable sized lawn to mow. In most models, you have the option to adjust the height of the blade to match the height of the grass in your lawn.
Cons:
These types of lawnmowers require a bit of maintenance, thanks to the engine or the mechanism used. Depending on the specific type of rotary lawn mower you choose, you may have to worry about sharpening the blades, replacing the battery, adding fuel, cleaning the engine, and the proper way to store them throughout winter. These machines are noisier to operate.
3. Riding Lawn Mowers
Pros:
Riding lawn mowers are best for huge properties (at least 1 acre). The offer the most powerful solution to huge lawns, even lawns that have a few trees. Modern design has made them easier to maneuver and steer. They are easy to operate and can be quite enjoyable. There's also a cool factor to "riding" these huge machines.
Cons:
Riding lawn mowers can be costly to maintain. You need a bigger space to store them. There's a bigger motor to feed and can require quite a bit of fuel to run. They are also noisy to operate.
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