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Assessing Your Lawn Mower Needs





If you are searching for the best lawn mower but are confused about the same, this article will help. We will take into consideration all the aspects of a good lawn mower while giving you a review of some of the best ones available today.

  1. Sun Joe MJ401E Mow Joe 14-Inch 12 Amp Electric Lawn Mower With Grass Bag
  2. WORX WG794 28-volt Landroid Robotic Lawn Mower
  3. Troy-Bilt 30-Inch Neighborhood Riding Lawn Mower
  4. BLACK+DECKER MTE912 6.5-Amp Electric 3-in-1 Trimmer/Edger and Mower, 12″
  5. American Lawn Mower 1204-14 14-Inch 4-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower
  6. Great States 415-16 16-Inch Reel Mower Standard Full Feature Lawn Mower With T-Style Handle And Heat Treated Blades
  7. Poulan Pro 961120130 PR450N20S Briggs 450e Side Discharge Push Mower in 20-Inch Deck
  8. GreenWorks MO14B00 9 Amp 14-Inch Corded Lawn Mower
  9. Fiskars 18 Inch StaySharp Max Reel Mower
  10. BLACK+DECKER MTC220 20V Lithium Ion 3-in-1 Trimmer/Edger and Mower, 12″

There are a number of important things to consider when assessing your lawn mower needs, from the type of grass you have to how often you need to mow.

Get to know your lawn and garden well, all the way down to the finest details, such as grass density, which determines your mower’s blade size and rotation. But pay attention to the big picture, too. For example, look into your neighborhood’s zoning laws. Sometimes, there are restrictions on noise or specific engine types.

Consider how large your lawn is. If it’s too expansive and you just can’t cover that much ground on foot, walk-behind lawn mowers won’t work well. On the other hand, riding mowers can be too beefy to maneuver effectively on a small plot. They can also be too clunky if there are obstacles in the way like flower beds, trees or a jungle gym.

You’ll also want to assess your yard’s terrain, too. Are there slopes and steep grades? Evaluate whether you’re physically able to push a lawn mower up hills and grip it on descents. Also, think about the skills it takes to maneuver a big riding mower on this kind of difficult terrain and remember there’s a danger of tipping every time you use a riding lawn mower on a hill.

If you’ve got serious slopes and a big yard, many experts recommend using a push-behind mower for the hills and a riding lawn mower for the grassy, flatter expanses.

And finally, take your lifestyle into consideration. It may not be worth buying a lawn mower if you’re moving in six months to Tucson, Ariz., where your yard will be landscaped with rocks instead of grass. Perhaps you travel a lot for business and aren’t around to care for your lawn as much as it needs. In cases like this, you may want to consider hiring a professional lawn care service company.

But if you’ve thought about your needs and are ready to purchase a lawn mower, go to the next page to discover different kinds of walk-behind mowers and which ones can best help you keep your lawn healthy and beautiful.

Lawn Mower Engines

All lawn mowers have a revolving blade that evenly trims grass at a consistent height. Different kinds of lawn mower engines make this cutting function possible. Mowers with a blade that revolves around a vertical axis are called rotary mowers, and those with a blade whirling around horizontally are known as reel or cylinder mowers.

Rotary push-behind mowers typically come with a two-stroke or four-stroke internal combustion engine. Internal combustion is one way energy is generated. Here, combustion is when a chemical change happens inside a controlled chamber within the engine that results in heat, or mechanical energy. Rotary walk-behind lawn mowers are generally powered with gasoline and have engines that are two horsepower to seven horsepower.

Riding lawn mowers, on the other hand, have 13 horsepower to 30 horsepower engines because they’re so much bigger and heavier. Mowers built for residential use have less power than larger commercial ones intended for cutting a lot of grass at places like golf courses or municipal parks.

Take note of whether a riding lawn mower’s engine is located in the front or back. Typically, rear engines provide better visibility but the most powerful riding mowers have front engines. Base your decision on what matters to you more.

Cylindrical mowers often don’t have an engine at all — but they can. If you want to make pushing along your reel mower easier, you can attach a gas or electric engine to power it. The attached motor spins the blades while you do the walking.

Common problems affecting lawn mowers involve carburetor quality, dirty oil, unbalanced blades, loose tires and much more.

Keep your lawn mower engine operating in good condition with regular maintenance and care. After use, let the motor cool. Spray off grass and debris from the undercarriage using a hose. Always store the mower in a dry place. When putting it away for the winter, drain the fuel to prevent it from aging and corroding the engine. Run the motor until it stops.

Go to the last page to learn about lawn mower attachments that can make lawn care around the home and garden much easier for you.


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