DIY Network

Hover mowers (figure C) work great for wet lawns and lawns that slope. They will hover above the lawn to trim the grass. Slopes won't slow them down either. They'll glide right over it. Hover mowers also mulch your lawn because they let the clippings fall back on the lawn to decompose.

Trim mowers will cut along edges without harming any fences or stones you might have lining your lawn. They use nylon blades to make clean cuts.

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Corded electric mowers generally cost the least but you have to walk with a cord behind you, which is pretty inconvenient. This could become quite a nuisance if you have to mow a large area. Battery-powered mowers have no cord but will only last for 20 minutes at a time. If your mower will get a lot of wear and tear, pick something that will hold up to it like a gas powered model. You want to make sure you're paying for quality and not bells and whistles. One way to ensure this is to look for a mower with a strong engine, which usually means a brand name. It should have all metal parts too, nothing plastic.

Ultimately, your budget will probably make most of the decisions for you but if you go a little cheaper now you might find yourself picking out a new one next year.

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