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Lawn-care expert Jamie McMurray tells how to choose a lawn mower. - Compare weight; power; cost; safety features; ease of starting, handling and maneuverability; and ease of clipping disposal.
- Select a push-reel mower (cuts with a scissorlike action of rotating blades passing over a stationary knife) if you have a small lawn.
- If you have a large lawn of grasses such as bluegrass and fescue that don't need to be cut shorter than 2", choose a gas- or electric-powered rotary mower. This type cuts with a circular blade that rotates under a protective housing (figure A).
- Choose a mulching mower if you don't want to deal with clippings. Mulching mowers cut clippings very small so that they disappear into the lawn.
- Choose a gas-powered reel mower if you have a large lawn made of grasses such as Bermuda or bent grass that need to be cut shorter than 2".
- Select a self-propelled mower if you have a hilly yard or a large lawn.
- Choose a riding lawn mower if you have a really big lawn.
Tips: - Do you have someone who does your mowing for you? You'd be wise to invest in your own mower anyway -- lawn diseases can be spread by means of mowers!
- Make sure the cutting blade is kept sharp.
- Keep the underside of the mower clean.
- Rotary mowers are by far the most popular type of lawn mower (figure B). They're lightweight, and you can sharpen the blades yourself. Reel mowers must be taken to a lawn mower shop for sharpening.
- Electric mowers are environmentally friendly and increasing in popularity. Rechargeable types eliminate the need for dragging a cord around. (Cordless mowers now have batteries that allow you to mow up to 1/3 acre.) Be ready to mow more often though; these mowers aren't made for deep cutting.
Warning: - Many people are injured mowing lawns, so it's imperative that you consider safety features carefully. Choose a power mower with a blade-shutoff switch and a dead-man switch.
Top 10 Reasons to Consider a Reel Mower - Nostalgia: The simplicity of this type of mower fulfills many people's desire to get back to basics and experience a simpler, more natural and peaceful lifestyle.
- Broad interest: The reel mower appeals to a wide range of young, old, urban, suburban, male, female; environmentally aware; lawn fanatics; exercise enthusiasts; all income levels; anyone and everyone with a patch of grass.
- Ease of use: The reel mower starts when you do -- no rope pulling, no key to remember, no idle to adjust, no gas or oil to worry with. Lightweight, only about 19 to 34 pounds, it's easy to push, lift and store. What could be easier? You push, it cuts -- every time.
- Superior cutting ability: Manual mowing is better for the lawn -- no ripping or tearing. The clean, even, scissor cut of a reel mower seals the grass blade to hold in moisture and keep out disease organisms. It also yields a natural mulch by dispersing clippings in a fine spray (no clumping) that decomposes quickly. Left on the lawn, the clippings serve as a natural fertilizer for the grass.
- Safety: Reel mowers are noted for safety: they stop when you do and don't throw rocks or debris.
- Economy: All models sell for very attractive prices, especially when they're compared with the larger sums required to purchase power units.
- Fitness: One of the best forms of cardiovascular exercise, pushing a reel mower burns as many calories per hour as tennis, downhill skiing and low-impact aerobics (for an average 150-pound person, that's 400 to 450 calories). You get a workout and the yard work gets done at the same time! (Just be sure to check with your doctor if you have any health restrictions on exercising.)
- Maintenance: No engine means no tune-up -- also no repairs, no gas, no oil, no spark plugs. Simply brush the blades off occasionally, spritz them with WD-40 and sharpen them every other season. (Yes, there's a DIY sharpening kit available too.)
- Environmental benefits: Cutting grass the natural way is good for the environment: no air or noise pollution.
- Suitability for small lawns: It makes sense: less lawn equals less mower.
Web site resources for mowers: Lawn Mower Savvy Quiet Lawn Mowers Maintaining Your Lawn Mower
GUESTS :
Jamie McMurray
Simply Green
Santa Monica, CA
Phone: 310-403-1925
E-mail: smplygrn@aol.com
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