Perhaps you have moved to a new place with a bigger yard, or the old mower you've had for years has finally broken down. If either of these is the case, or you just wanting to upgrade, this guide may help you in deciding what it is exactly you need to satisfy your lawn care needs. Sorting through the myriad of options out there can be a confusing experience. The general tips you will find here will help you along the way.



First of all, assess your general lawn care needs. How big is your lawn? Lawns larger than 2 acres make a strong case for choosing a riding mower. If you have a lawn smaller than 2 acres, a riding or push mower is more a choice of personal preference. With a lawn of 2 acres and up, however, a riding mower is the way to go unless you really enjoy spending all day mowing the lawn.

With a relatively small lawn, there are a couple more choices to be made before you consider specific models. Do you want a really close cut for your grass in order to achieve that golf course look? If so, then a reel mower may be a good choice for you. A reel mower is different than a rotary blade in that it can achieve a far closer cut without damaging the grass. A reel mower cuts the grass gently since the blades are turned as the wheels move. The spiral of blades serve to guide the grass under a single stationary cutting bar that neatly snips the grass. A reel mower can also be adjusted to make extremely close and even cuts on the grass. Push reel mowers are powered simply by the turning of the wheels. If you have a small and relatively flat lawn, a reel mower can work great. They do not work as well over leaves, twigs, or rocks so you may want to think twice if your lawn tends to accumulate a lot of these.

For larger or more difficult lawns, a powered mower might be a good idea. Here you have the choice of electric or gas powered push mowers. An electric mower may be a viable choice in some cases especially if you despise the loudness of gas motors. Once you have decided between having an electric or gas mower, you must also decide whether to go with a self-propelled mower or a simple push mower. For lawns that are sloped or would otherwise demand a lot from the operator, a self-propelled variety can save the user a great deal of strain.

For those truly large lawns, or those with several obstacles, a riding mower may be the best solution. Riding mowers offer comfort and ease of use especially for larger jobs. If your lawn has gardens, trees, or other obstacles that prevent you from getting a clean cut lawn, then a zero-turn riding mower might be in order. These models carry a higher price, but they give the operator the ability to turn on a dime in order to achieve much closer cuts in hard to reach areas. If your yard is full of trees or gardens, this might be a worthwhile investment.