How to Choose the Right Lawn Mower for Your Needs
Today, there is an endless array of lawnmowers to choose from to help you with your gardening issues, so how do you choose the right lawn mower for your needs? In order to fit your particular needs, you need to assess the type of lawn that you have and find the appropriate lawn mower to fit your particular needs. Before you buy your lawn mower, you should factor your budget, size of your lawn, the longevity of your machine, and its durability. There are several steps that you should take to assure that you will buy the appropriate lawn mower for your needs.
Lawn Type
The first issue that you should take into consideration is the type of lawn that you have. One easy way to do this is by going out to your outdoor space and evaluating the amount of space that you have for your lawn. Keep in mind that a lawn mower that covers a large area of grass will help you simplify the mowing process. While a large lawn mower may be ideal for large backyards, it will not be fit for areas that have too many slabs of concrete or pathways that reduce the amount of grass that you have available.
Two Choices
There are two types of lawn mowers available to choose from. You can pick between the rotary and the reel lawn mower. The rotary lawn mower often uses a horizontal cutting motion and uses a sucking and tearing action to cut blades of grass. Most rotary engines may be very small because they contain only a single engine and are usually either electric or gas powered engines. On the other hand, a reel mower will use a vertical suck and tearing motion, and have a fast six to seven fast rotating blades. If you have a large yard, then a reel mower will benefit you more because it allows for precision and cuts your lawn like a scissor. Since it is apt for larger lawns, this type of lawn mower is recommended for larger machines, and should not be maneuvered by you as if the mower was a hand held or more portable device.
Gas vs. Electric
Depending on your preferences, you may also want to determine the way in which your machine is propelled. You have the option of choosing either an electric or a gas lawn blower. They are often not self-propelled, which means that you might be pushing the lawn mower around more. In this instance, you should make sure to get a lawn mower that is lighter because they can become heavy. Depending on your taste, you should look to see whether or not your machine starts electronically or you need to pull a chord for your machine to start. A chorded mower does not need to be self-propelled; if it is self-propelled then it should have more speeds to be more comfortable.
Longevity
Longevity is another important factor when choosing your lawn mower. The features of your machine will help you determine your machine’s durability and longevity. They will also help you understand how you will need to take care of your machine. Your lawn mower may be designed with a combination of materials. Steel, cast aluminum, plastic are the predominant materials from which lawn mowers are designed. Steel is sturdy and durable, but if you do not have the time to take care of it, you should steer clear because they will eventually rust. Plastic is lighter than steel and is an optimal choice for small lowers. However, they are used less in lawn mowers because they have a higher probability of melting under the heat produced when you cut your lawn. Cast aluminum is the best choice for lawn mowers, though it comes at the highest price. It is lighter than steel, and it is more rust resistant.
Other Features
Other features that you should consider include mulching, side discharge, and bagging. Defined, mulching is a feature that will fertilize your lawn because it cuts grass pieces to even smaller grass pieces and will help you mow your lawn. It is a highly recommended feature because there will be no extraneous need to find fertilizer, if the mulching option on your lawn mower is sufficient. In comparison to mulching, a side discharge is a chute where your grass clippings are thrust out. It is a good way to fertilize your lawn as well, though it comes with a longer wait time because the grass is less finely cut up and distributed. Bagging is also an option, though it is least recommended because it turns the clippings to waste, and does not recycle the clippings into nitrogen. Bagging is beneficial during the fall season when there are large amounts of fallen leave on the ground and you need to compost them.
Good luck with your next lawn mower purchase! If you already have a mower, than reevaluate your machine and see if it is good for you. If not, take the aforementioned ideas into consideration.
