Lawn Mowers How To Choose

Regular mowing is as vital to a healthy lawn as watering, fertilizing, and weeding. A bumper crop of easier-starting mowers and wider-cutting tractors is trimming some of the work from this weekly ritual.

Most gas-powered mowers we tested now start with just one pull of the rope, and some $400 models now offer electric starting for another $40 or so. Corded electrics cut more capably than before, and cordless versions run longer per charge courtesy of better batteries. You’ll also find lower-priced zero-turn-radius riding mowers, which use rear-wheel steering for tight turns.

Cleaner gas engines are on the way as well. Despite the good news, some new designs and claims came up short in our weeks of tests over nearly 400,000 square feet of tough annual rye grass.

WHAT’S AVAILABLE

Mowing options range from $100 manual reel mowers to $4,000-plus tractors and zero-turn-radius machines. Here’s what you’ll find:

Manual-reel mowers. These most-traditional mower brands are Craftsman and Scotts. They’re quiet, inexpensive, and nonpolluting, since pushing them turns the wheels and a series of curved blades without an engine. They’re also relatively safe and require little upkeep beyond blade adjustments and sharpening. But swaths are only 14 to 18 inches wide, cutting tends to be relatively uneven, and most can’t cut grass higher than 11?2 inches or trim closer than 3 inches around obstacles. And because they don’t disburse clippings like a rotary mower, you’ll need a bag (or a rake) if you’re fussy. Price: $100 to about $400.

Electric mowers. Major brands include Black & Decker, Craftsman, and Homelite, among others. These push-type, walk-behind mowers use an electric motor to drive a rotating blade. Both corded and battery-powered cordless models start with push-button ease, produce no exhaust emissions, and require little upkeep beyond sharpening. Most offer a side or rear bag and a mulching mode that cuts and recuts clippings until they’re small enough to nestle within the lawn and fertilize it as they decompose. The best corded models perform as well as some gas mowers, and today’s cordless models run longer per charge. But electrics, particularly cordless versions, still can’t match the best gas mowers in tall or thick grass and weeds. Cordless mowers weigh up to 30 pounds more than corded models, and don’t limit cutting to within range of a power outlet. Both typically cut 14- to 20-inch swaths vs. 21 and 22 inches for gas mowers. Price: corded, $125 to $250; cordless, $400 or more.

Gas-powered mowers. These free you from a cord and include push and self-propelled models. All have a four-stroke engine and a cutting swath 21 or 22 inches wide, and can handle long or thick grass and weeds. Most can also bag, side-discharge, or mulch clippings by cutting them small enough to hide within and help fertilize the lawn. But gas mowers are relatively noisy, produce exhaust emissions, and require regular maintenance. Price: push-type, $150 to $400; self-propelled, $200 to $900.

Zero-turn-radius mowers. These rear-engine, rear-steering riding mowers are similar to the ones landscapers use and typically mow a swath 42 to 48 inches wide. You would need a four-wheel-steer tractor to match their tight turns around trees, posts, and other obstacles. They also side-discharge, bag, and mulch clippings. But they’re pricier than most tractors and typically don’t cut as well. Lever controls for steering and ground speed take practice, and steering on hills can be challenging. Rear-steering wheels can tear up grass on turns. You’ll also pay some $400 to $800 for a bagging kit. Price: $2,300 to $4,000 for most homeowner versions.