When the time comes to invest in a new lawn mower it can be a hard choice to make. There are so many types and models available now that it is easy to become confused. The main things to consider when looking for a new lawn mower is what kind of lawn you are going to be using it on, the size of the lawn and what major features you personally prefer.
The most expensive are riding lawn mowers. While they certainly have the appeal of making the task of lawn mowing easy, they are expensive to run as well as purchase. Unless you have at least half an acre of lawn to mow they are probably not worth the bother.
At the other end of the scale is the reel lawn mower. More people are turning to these as an environmentally friendly option. Standard gas driven mowers produce more emissions than car engines! Modern reel lawn mowers are very lightweight and don’t take too much strain to use. You do need to rake up twigs and cut the lawn regularly though. Experts recommend that these are a great idea IF you have a small lawn, are reasonably fit and can keep to a schedule.
Choosing a battery powered electric lawn mower is also a more environmentally friendly option. Again though these are only recommended for small lawns that will take no more than 10-30 minutes to mow.
Most people will opt for a standard rotary lawn mower. If you can afford it or if you have rough terrain and a large area to cover a self propelled lawn mower makes a good choice for many. Experts recommend choosing a model that only cuts off the blade rather than whole engine on handle release.
If you are looking for other special features in a lawn mower it is a good idea to get one that can mulch, catch and discharge from the side. This kind of versatility can be very useful for different seasons.
A Honda lawn mower or Toro lawn mower are considered the most reliable by the consumer institute, so these may be brands worth looking at. It may even be better to buy a used lawn mower that you know has a good reputation rather than a cheap but unreliable new model. New or used, the average lawn mower will have a life span of around 10 years, so size up your lawn, weigh up your costs and make a choice that is right for you.
