One of the reasons that people get fed up with lawns is that lawns require this regular, monotonous maintenance called cutting the grass, which, for some of you, may conjure up memories of noisy, dirty, hard-to-start engines. We’re here to tell you that times have changed! You have so many more choices now that you’re more likely to find the mower that’s right for you. New lawn mowers are quieter, better working, less polluting, and safer.

Choose a lawn mower according to the size of your lawn, the type of grass, your tolerance (or lack thereof) of noise, and your desire for exercise. Allow about an hour to mow 2,500 square feet (232 m2) of grass, using a 20-inch-wide (50 cm) rotary mower. The wider the mower or the faster it moves, the more quickly you can get the job done.

Push-reel mowers

Push-reel mowers are quiet and completely nonpolluting; they give your body a workout that equals a session (at the least) with a treadmill. If your lawn is 1,000 square feet (93 m2) or less and composed mostly of soft grasses, such as fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, or ryegrass, this type of mower is a serious option. Most cost around $100, but fancy ones can be twice that.

Power-reel mowers

The power-reel mower is the type of mower that professional gardeners and greenskeepers use. In all cases, the engine drives both the cutting blades and the wheels, but some types throw clippings to the front, and others throw to the rear. These mowers are much more expensive than rotary mowers ($300 and up), but they’re unsurpassed at providing a close, even cut — even of dense, thick grasses such as Bermuda grass or zoysia.

Push rotary power mowers

Push rotary power is the type of mower that America uses to cut its grass. You provide the push power, but the engine and the spinning blade do the grass cutting. This type is relatively inexpensive ($200–$400, depending on features) and easy to operate. You need to choose between side or rear bagging. Side-baggers are cheaper and work just as well, but they’re slightly less convenient because you can cut close only on one side of the mower.

Don’t buy a push rotary power mower that doesn’t include a blade break system, colorfully termed a deadman switch. This device makes the spinning blade stop within 3 seconds after the operator releases a lever on the handle. These mowers are more expensive, but they reduce mower-caused injuries.

Self-propelled and mulching rotary mowers

Self-propelled and mulching rotary mowers are basically the same as push rotary power mowers but with added features. Naturally, the price is steeper: $500–$700, usually. The self-propelled feature is plain enough: Pulleys and gears link the engine to the front wheels. The mulching concept is a bit more involved: The mower is basically the same, but the cutting blade and deck are redesigned to cut and recut the grass and leaves, resulting in pieces small enough that the grass filters back down into the lawn. As the cut blades decompose, they release nutrients to the growing lawn, and you don’t have to bag and send clippings to the landfill. These mowers typically have no exit chute on the side or rear.

Electric rotary mowers

Electric rotary mowers are great, especially if you’d rather not deal with anything gasoline-powered. The machines are virtually silent and easy to start. Electric rotary mowers do have a downside, though. A long cord, usually of a maximum length, restricts your movements (and how much lawn you can cut); the umbilical-free, battery-powered kinds are a bit heavy and pricey.  ....read more