The Best Lawn Mowers

HOW TO CHOOSE = When choosing among the best lawn mowers, experts suggest considering the following factors. Be sure the maximum cutting height is appropriate for your grass and climate.

In hot, dry climates, you should let the grass grow higher to prevent burning and to conserve moisture. Three to four inches is recommended for these conditions.

If you need to mow around several obstacles, a narrower mower might be easier to maneuver. A manual mower will get stuck on twigs, pine cones, and other debris.

A gas or electric power mower is suggested for yards with trees that drop these items. Larger rear wheels and/or a rear wheel drive are best for slopes and irregular lawns. Ball-bearing wheels are another plus.

Future repairs and maintenance are inevitable. Consider the warranty carefully, and you should buy locally for convenience. For gas mowers, horsepower and brand name don’t mean much. Just stay away from “Made In China” engines – they don’t perform as well as the more well-known American brands.

Rear-bagging mowers are more convenient, easier to maneuver, and safer than side-bagging models. A blade-brake override adds convenience because it allows you to stop the blade while emptying the bag, without turning the mower off and restarting it again.

The best lawn mowers that are self-propelled will have variable speeds to allow for a more even cut if your grass is longer than usual and you wish to slow it down a bit. All gas-powered and electric mowers have an environmental impact.

Manual reel mowers have no impact and offer good exercise, but could be exhausting if you have a large lawn. If you do prefer a reel mower, choose a 7-bladed model for tough grasses and a 5-bladed model for upright grass.

THE REVIEW = The Best Gas Push Mower is the Craftsman 38905 which is available only at Sears. This mower is a good blend of performance and value.

It can mulch and gets good reviews for its recoil start, which is extremely reliable. Another plus is that the bag is very easy to change. This model comes with a 2-year warranty and sells for about $225.

Other top performers include:

Best Budget Self-Propelled Mower = Toro Recycler 20333 @ $400.

Best Luxury Lawn Mower = Honda HRX217K2HMA @ $900.

Best Electric Mower = Black & Decker MM875 @ $ 250.

Best Cordless Mower = Black & Decker CMM1200 @ $400.

Best Manual Reel Mower = Scotts Green Classic 2000-20 @ $140.

Best price found in Dec.’09 and again in May, '10 = Sears for Craftsman; Home Depot for Toro; Amazon.com for all other models.

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