In this guide-
+ Background on lawn mowers
+ Features and functions to look for in lawn mowers
+ How to find the best lawn mower for you
+ Features and functions to look for in lawn mowers
+ How to find the best lawn mower for you
This short guide was created to help you understand the basics on how lawn mowers work and to help you choose the right lawn mower for you (and yes, you can buy lawnmowers online!). We do not sell any lawn mowers ourselves, so you can be assured that all of the information in this guide is independent and unbiased.
Background on lawn mowers
There are two main types of lawn mowers- riding and push mowers. Naturally, the choice between the two types has a lot to do with how large the lawn is, the desire and physical condition of the lawn mowing person to spend his or her energy or time mowing the lawn, and budget. For some people, a riding lawn mower is sort of a suburban status symbol, and others look forward to pushing a blade mower (no engine) as a form of exercise a couple times a week. The choice is purely a personal one, and next are some factors to look at when choosing your next lawn mower.
There are two main types of lawn mowers- riding and push mowers. Naturally, the choice between the two types has a lot to do with how large the lawn is, the desire and physical condition of the lawn mowing person to spend his or her energy or time mowing the lawn, and budget. For some people, a riding lawn mower is sort of a suburban status symbol, and others look forward to pushing a blade mower (no engine) as a form of exercise a couple times a week. The choice is purely a personal one, and next are some factors to look at when choosing your next lawn mower.
Features and functions to look for in lawn mowers
Riding Lawn Mowers
If you're looking for a riding lawn mower, you should start by analyzing your lawn to determine what kind of riding lawn mower would be best for you. Consider not just the size of your lawn, but also the terrain, i.e., is your lawn relatively flat or is it rather hilly? Are there lots of obstacles, like trees, landscaping beds, play structures, etc.? Does your lawn do better with a mulching mower or is it best to remove the grass for a compost pile? The better web sites that sell riding lawn mowers will walk you through a wizard that will help you determine the models that would work best for your lawn.
Riding Lawn Mowers
If you're looking for a riding lawn mower, you should start by analyzing your lawn to determine what kind of riding lawn mower would be best for you. Consider not just the size of your lawn, but also the terrain, i.e., is your lawn relatively flat or is it rather hilly? Are there lots of obstacles, like trees, landscaping beds, play structures, etc.? Does your lawn do better with a mulching mower or is it best to remove the grass for a compost pile? The better web sites that sell riding lawn mowers will walk you through a wizard that will help you determine the models that would work best for your lawn.
Beyond the lawn requirements, you should consider your personal comfort and needs for lawn mowing and make sure to find a mower that has the options you want. For example, if you would also like to use your riding mower to pull a trailer, do any tilling, clear any snow with a blower or blade, etc., you'll need to make sure that it can handle all of the attachments. Make sure the riding mower has ample horsepower for your needs (again, you should get some help from the better web sites on proper sizing), and consider such things as seat padding, cup holders, and cruise control that can make your lawn duties more comfortable.
Push Mowers
If you're looking for a push lawn mower, you have a few different options of power and locomotion. You can actually still buy the old-fashioned blade mowers that spin around the axle as the wheels turn- no motor. By far the most popular kind of lawn mower, however, is the push mower with top-mounted engine that spins the blade horizontal to the ground. Some gas-powered engines come with electric starters so you don't have to pull the start cord anymore. The engine can be either gasoline or electric-powered, and locomotion is provided by the person behind and pushing the mower. Several years ago, lawn mowers were introduced that tie a transmission system into the engine, and the engine actually provides the locomotion for the mower (these are known as self-propelled lawn mowers).
If you're looking for a push lawn mower, you have a few different options of power and locomotion. You can actually still buy the old-fashioned blade mowers that spin around the axle as the wheels turn- no motor. By far the most popular kind of lawn mower, however, is the push mower with top-mounted engine that spins the blade horizontal to the ground. Some gas-powered engines come with electric starters so you don't have to pull the start cord anymore. The engine can be either gasoline or electric-powered, and locomotion is provided by the person behind and pushing the mower. Several years ago, lawn mowers were introduced that tie a transmission system into the engine, and the engine actually provides the locomotion for the mower (these are known as self-propelled lawn mowers).
Beyond what type of locomotion you'd like for your push lawn mower, you should consider the horsepower that you'll need, if there is a variable speed, a blade-brake clutch (this stops the blade but keeps the motor running when the saftey handle is dis-engaged), what sort of bagging/mulch system the mower has, how wide the cutting path is, and what sort of height adjustments are possible for the cutting blade. You also might want to check out what adjustments are available for the handle of the mower (raise and lower) and what kind of grips are on the mower for your comfort.
Automatic Mowers
In addition to riding and push mowers, there are also automatic lawn mowers, which are small units that work independently without an operator to mow your lawn. They work by moving and cutting randomly throughout the boundaries that you set for your lawn's perimeter. Over time, the randomness of the patterns assures that all of the lawn will be mowed. These automatic mowers are battery powered, and will usually take themselves back to the charging station when their battery gets low. Some automatic mowers have anti-theft devices with programmable security codes, and have safety features in place for when the mower runs into obstacles or gets picked up. If considering an automatic mower, make sure it will work for your lawn's terrain and size.
In addition to riding and push mowers, there are also automatic lawn mowers, which are small units that work independently without an operator to mow your lawn. They work by moving and cutting randomly throughout the boundaries that you set for your lawn's perimeter. Over time, the randomness of the patterns assures that all of the lawn will be mowed. These automatic mowers are battery powered, and will usually take themselves back to the charging station when their battery gets low. Some automatic mowers have anti-theft devices with programmable security codes, and have safety features in place for when the mower runs into obstacles or gets picked up. If considering an automatic mower, make sure it will work for your lawn's terrain and size.
How to find the best lawn mower for you
If you're looking to find a lawn mower that will work for you and your needs, you have the choice of visiting you local hardware or home improvement store, or shopping online. The main advantage to shopping for a lawn more in a retail store is that you can see and touch the lawn mower yourself; you can also take it home that day instead of waiting a few days for shipping. In contrast, shopping online can be a lot more convenient and efficient than driving across and around town to visit the various stores in person; shopping online for a lawn mower can also be done 24 hours a day. You may want to combine in-store and online shopping as well. You can either do your research online, (and then visit a store to touch the items you are considering), or you can visit a store to find what lawn mower you like, and then go online to find the best deal on that mower.
If you're looking to find a lawn mower that will work for you and your needs, you have the choice of visiting you local hardware or home improvement store, or shopping online. The main advantage to shopping for a lawn more in a retail store is that you can see and touch the lawn mower yourself; you can also take it home that day instead of waiting a few days for shipping. In contrast, shopping online can be a lot more convenient and efficient than driving across and around town to visit the various stores in person; shopping online for a lawn mower can also be done 24 hours a day. You may want to combine in-store and online shopping as well. You can either do your research online, (and then visit a store to touch the items you are considering), or you can visit a store to find what lawn mower you like, and then go online to find the best deal on that mower.
If you've found the mower you want to purchase and want to figure out the best place to buy it, make sure to consider the shipping costs and taxes in your overall figure. Shipping a riding lawn mower across the country can be expensive, but so can sales taxes on a $1,500-$4,000 dollar purchase. In addition, whether you choose to buy online or in retail stores, make sure to find out how the unit will be serviced, both within and beyond the warranty period.
