Purchasing a lawn mower is a major decision, one you want to get right the first time. But it’s hard to pick through the wide selection available and decide exactly what you do and don’t need.
Several factors go into determining what type of lawnmower you buy. Lawn size is a big one and you’ll also need to take into consideration what kind of terrain you need to maneuver and how much work you want to put into mowing. To help you start narrowing down your options, here’s a quick overview of the major lawn mower styles available.
Electric Mowers
Pros: low-maintenance and zero-emission
Cons: only works for very small lawns
You can get corded electric mowers or battery-powered models like the RMA series from Stihl. They’re very quiet and low-maintenance because of not having a gasoline engine. If you have a small, in-town yard, they’re a good choice.
Gasoline Push Mowers
Pros: economical choice for small, flat lawns
Cons: can be tiring to use, especially in hilly lawns
If you want a workout while mowing, gasoline-powered push mowers could be a good choice. They’re typically less expensive than the self-propelled models, but if your lawn is on the larger side or has hills you’ll want to consider a self-propelled model instead.
Self-Propelled Walk-Behind
Pros: take the effort out of pushing a walk-behind mower
Cons: best for lawns under 1/2 to 1 acre in size
Self-propelled walk-behind mowers do most of the work for you, even on hills. All you need to do is walk and steer. They also have the advantage of being more maneuverable than larger mowers, including riding mowers. If you have a small yard or one with lots of obstacles to mow around, they’re typically the best choice.
Mid-Size Walk-Behind
Pros: larger cutting deck than other walk-behind mowers
Cons: you still have to walk
You can’t ride on these mowers, but they mow quickly and cover more ground in each pass than smaller walk-behinds. They can handle all terrain, but might not be good for large yards unless you want a vigorous workout.
Lawn Tractors
Pros: good for large lawns, can handle hills, multipurpose use
Cons: less maneuverable than zero-turn mowers
Lawns tractors are the all-purpose riding mower. They’ll cut large lawns much more quickly than a walk-behind mower and can handle different terrain with ease. You can also get attachments for many lawn tractors and use them to mount a snowplow blade or pull a work cart.
Zero-Turn
Pros: fastest lawn cutting available, highly maneuverable
Cons: not good for hilly lawns or steep slopes
If you have a large flat lawn, you can’t beat zero-turn riding mowers for speed. Once you get used to the two-handle steering mechanism, you’ll be able to mow quickly and maneuver with ease around obstacles in the lawn. They’re not the best choice for hilly or sloped lawns, though.