14/7/2017

3 Important Features to Consider When Buying a Lawn Mower

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One of the home or property owner’s primary responsibilities is to keep their lawn and garden in good shape. The lawn is the first thing a passerby or a visitor sees, and caring for the grass and plants is one of the owner’s most demanding obligations. Neglecting this job will only lead to your garden looking abandoned and overgrown. Unless you want your home to look like an abandoned drug den, you will have to spend time doing lawn and garden upkeep.

The job is very straightforward: You water the plants, you trim the hedges, and most importantly, you mow the lawn. Depending on the type of grass, you might find yourself lawn mowing at least once a week. Whether you do the lawn care yourself or have someone do it for you, it is important to use the right tools and machines to ensure your lawn and garden stays healthy and vibrant.

Chief among these machines is the lawn mower. The wrong lawn mower can make your work more difficult and tiresome, or worse, ruin your grass. Choosing the right lawn mower for the job is similar to buying a car. While buying a lawn mower is not an important a decision as choosing a car, the processes involved are almost the same. There are many kinds of lawn mowers for sale, each suited for a particular type of lawn, and without a guide, a buyer can feel lost and confused.

I wrote this guide for the person who is looking for a lawn mower, but does not know where to start. I simplified the process by breaking down the most important components into digestible sections. However, I can’t tell you what kind of lawn mower to buy. The best I can do is to guide you to the right direction. Only you can tell whether a lawn mower is right for you or not.

The size and complexity of your lawn should be your first consideration. If you know your lawn inside and out, then good. If not, answer a few of these questions: How big is the yard? What type of grass is grown? Are there any obstacles that could make lawn mower maneuvering difficult? Are you fine with a loud mower or are there any noise prohibitions? Once you know the answers to these questions, then we can begin.

TERRAIN

The terrain of your property is one of the major determining factors when choosing a lawn mower. A lawn with a flat and even terrain is easier to mow than one that is hilly and sloping. Sure, you might say that the challenge posed by a hilly terrain can become great exercise, but ask yourself whether you can sustain that week after week and still provide the necessary attention to your lawn. If your property has a lot of uneven terrain, you might want to consider a self-propelled lawn mower.

Most large mowers like z-turn radius mowers and lawn tractors are self-propelled, but you might not want to use that big a lawn mower, and not all lawns are large enough to require a mower of that size. If not, look for a push lawn mower that is built with powered rear wheels that makes them self-propelling. With a self-propelled push lawn mower, you no longer have to exert force to push the machine up hills and across the lawn. You can even adjust the speed so you don’t feel like the mower is pulling you instead of you pushing the machine.

POWER

If two lawn mowers look almost the same and possess the same functions, you can differentiate them by their engine power. Lawn mowers are rated by the power their engine produces. You can go to a lawn mower showroom and look at mowers with the same deck sizes and cutting swaths but have different engines.

The engine is the one place where some lawn mower manufacturers try to cut costs by installing a less powerful motor. A mower with a small motor is more likely to get stuck in thick grass, and will deteriorate faster since the engine is exerting more effort.

As a rule of thumb: Lawn mowers with large motors perform better than those with small motors. A larger motor can also lead to a longer service life, fewer breakdowns, and less maintenance. It also provides more power to cut grass.

RELIABILITY

You want a lawn mower that will last you for years. While a quality mower might cost you a pretty penny, imagine the long-term costs if you buy a cheap, shoddy mower that will require constant replacement. Look for a lawn mower that has a solid construction and a powerful motor. Make sure the motor comes from a reputable brand, off-brand motors may be cheaper but they also wear out quickly.

A solid lawn mower lasts longer, and costs less to maintain since you don’t have to replace the parts as often. Cheap parts are more likely to break, which you will have to replace.

Tags: lawn and garden / lawn / Garden / Buying a Lawn Mower / garden maintenance / Lawn Mower / essential gardening tools