Choosing a walk-behind lawnmower is in many ways a very individual matter, especially since most of us have a love/hate relationship with the work of cutting grass. But the more wisely you choose, the less there is to hate about this most common of all property care tasks.

With so many choices, a good first step is to decide what category of walk-behind mower you want to shop in. To that end, here is an overview to help you narrow the field:

REEL MOWERSThe most basic type of mower is the one that some of us

grew up with, the old-fashioned human-powered reel mower. The good news is that, if it’s been many years since you’ve tried one, reel mowers have gotten much lighter and easier to push than they used to be. And they have found some new converts in recent years among environmentally conscious consumers who want to minimize their carbon footprint. Keep a reel mower sharp it will perform very well, especially on smaller lawns that you can cut in half an hour or less.

CORDED ELECTRIC MOWERSA corded electric mower is a convenient option for small

lawns with minimal landscaping obstacles. Obviously, you are tethered to a cord during operation, so you need to be close to a power source on every corner of your lawn. Electric mowers are mostly on the narrow side (20" or less), but for a small lawn that may not make much of a difference in mower time. If don’t like messing with gas and oil, corded electric mowing is a clean and inexpensive alternative.

WALK-BEHINDMOWER

LAWN MOWERS

CHOOSING A

If it’s been many years since you’ve tried one, reel mowers have gotten much lighter and easier to push than they used to be.

www.PEPlus.com

Power Equipment Plus 75 Meigs Road, Vergennes, Vermont 05491 1-800-550-8780

Tools. Equipment. Plus a whole lot more.

www.PEPlus.com

Power Equipment Plus 75 Meigs Road, Vergennes, Vermont 05491 1-800-550-8780

Tools. Equipment. Plus a whole lot more.

BATTERY-POWERED MOWERSBattery powered mowers are a fast-growing sector of the

lawnmower market. They offer all the low-impact cleanliness and reduced operating costs of corded electric mowers without tethering you to an electrical cord…meaning you have better reach and can maneuver around landscaping obstacles without fear of getting tangled up. The tradeoff is that you need to remember to keep your battery charged, and, if your yard’s mowing time exceeds the mower’s battery life, you may need to purchase an additional battery in order to get the job done in a single session. So be sure to consider your mowing time and whether you will want a second battery as you price shop. Like corded electric mowers, battery powered mowers tend to have narrower widths and are recommended primarily for smaller lawns.

GAS MOWERSGas mowers are by far the most common type of walk-behind

lawn mower and are available in many varieties. And, putting budget aside for a moment, the most important considerations in making a choice are the size of your yard, how long it will take to mow with a given mower, and the maximum time you are willing to spend mowing.

A precise calculation of mowing time gets pretty complicated because there are so many variables, so the best starting point is to know how long it takes you to cut your grass with the mower you have today. If the property is new to you, consider borrowing or renting a mower to give you a starting point. Then, based on the mowing time you experience with that mower, there are two main features you should consider to add or subtract mowing time:

Cutting Width. The wider the mower, the fewer passes it takes to complete the job. Gas walk-behind mowers range from a low of about 15", to a normal of 21-22", all the way up to a maximum of about 48"a.

Push or Self-Propelled? While some enjoy the exercise brought on by pushing a lawnmower, others have very limited tolerance for it. But it’s safe to say that the bigger your yard, the more likely you are to want a self-propelled mower. Aside from the fact that push mowers require more effort on your part, self-propelled mowers keep you working at a steady

CHOOSING A WALK-BEHIND MOWER

Battery-powered mowers offer all the low-impact cleanliness and reduced operating costs of corded electric mowers without tethering you to an electrical cord

Gas mowers are by far the most common type of walk-behind lawn mower and are available in many varieties.

www.PEPlus.com

Power Equipment Plus 75 Meigs Road, Vergennes, Vermont 05491 1-800-550-8780

Tools. Equipment. Plus a whole lot more.

clip, whereas you will naturally take more pauses with a push mower. So, even with an equivalent cutting width, a push mower is likely to be 10-20% slower than a self-propelled mower.

Each of these two key features has a direct impact on the cost of the mower, as does choosing between a manual- and electric-starting mower.

Once you’ve decided on the type of mower, and your desired set of features, it all comes down to your budget. Here at Power Equipment Plus, you’ll find a great selection of mowers with the information you need to choose the mower that’s right for you.

CHOOSING A WALK-BEHIND MOWER

Power Equipment Plus is a division of Country Home Products, Inc., the

premiere developer and marketer of professional-grade outdoor equipment

for residential use. Country Home Products was founded in 1985 in Charlotte,

Vermont. For more information on its complete line of power equipment and

property care supplies, visit the web site at www.PEPlus.com. Tom Parent for Power Equipment Plus