The Ultimate Lawn Mower Buying Guide: Top Features to Consider for a Perfect Lawn
Having the right lawn mower can transform a dreaded chore into a fun pastime.
You’re used to spending hours on a slow, bumpy mower, miserable in the sweltering sun, and thinking of everything else you’d rather be doing. Especially if, after all that work, your lawn is cut unevenly. But with a better mower, you can whiz along and be done in no time! Plus, your lawn looks better than ever – clean, even, and ready to be enjoyed!
At SteveCo Power, we love to help people find the perfect mower to help them mow with comfort and pride.
But we know that sometimes the choices can be overwhelming. That’s why we wrote this blog post, going over the top mower brands, basic mower types, and features to look for, so you can make an informed decision as you purchase a new lawn mower.
Let’s get started!
6 Types of Mowers to Choose From
When you start looking at your mower options, you’ll quickly see that there are many types.
Where do you even begin?
The type of mower you choose depends on what you intend to use the mower for! How big is your lawn? Does it have slopes? Are you mowing lawns as a business or just doing your backyard?
Answering these questions helps you hone in on the best mower for you. But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s go over the six main types of lawnmowers.
Zero-Turn Mowers
Zero-turn mowers are designed to be highly maneuverable. They have a zero-degree turning radius, making it incredibly easy to mow around obstacles. For instance, if your property has a lot of trees that are a massive headache to mow around, a zero-turn mower will help you zip around them in no time!
Zero-turn mowers are popular with commercial landscapers, but you can also find zero-turn models designed for residential use.
Stand-On Mowers
If you’re a commercial landscaper and don’t like sitting all day, you may be in the market for a stand-on mower!
Stand-on mowers are commercial lawnmowers designed with a platform to stand on instead of sitting down as you do on a typical riding mower. They’re highly maneuverable and are popular with landscapers for their increased efficiency and reduced fatigue.
Commercial Walk-Behind Mowers
A commercial walk-behind mower is a mower that you walk behind instead of riding on. It is a highly-maneuverable mower option that’s versatile on uneven terrain, good for precision and detail work, and may be a more affordable commercial mower option.
Commercial walk-behind mowers have a wide cutting width from 48” to 60”, allowing you to cut the grass quickly and efficiently. They come with adjustable cutting heights and often have ergonomic features.
Lawn Tractors
Lawn tractors are the most common type of riding lawn mower. They have larger engines and wider cutting decks than residential walk-behind mowers, making it much easier to mow a large lawn and get the job done quickly!
Lawn tractors often have advanced features, such as bagging systems or mulching capabilities. They’re suitable for both residential and commercial use.
Residential Walk-Behind Mowers
Residential walk-behind mowers, sometimes called “push mowers,” have a smaller cutting deck than commercial models and usual have fewer features.
Walk-behind mowers are a budget-friendly mower option. They are more maneuverable than riding lawn mowers in odd corners of your lawn and along edges.
Some residential walk-behind mowers require more effort than others. If you like walk-behind mowers but don’t have the energy to push one over the hills of your lawn, you’ll probably be happier with a self-propelled walk-behind lawnmower.
Robotic Mowers
A robotic mower is a small machine that mows your yard by itself. All you have to do is install a boundary wire around the perimeter of your lawn to act as a virtual fence to keep your robot from wandering off!
Robotic mowers have sensors that detect obstacles and navigate around them, but they don’t have a human’s common sense, so they may cut something you don’t want them to. And while they have built-in safety features, it’s best to keep children and pets off the lawn while the mower is running.
6 Features to Look For in a Mower
Different mowers come with various features. What features should you look for in a mower?
Here are the six major features to consider.
- Cutting width: A wider cutting width gets the job done faster, but it might be too wide for maneuvering narrow spaces in your lawn. The perfect cutting width depends on what type of lawn you have.
- Cutting height adjustments: Look for a mower with an adjustable cutting height. Sometimes you might want to trim your grass lower so you don’t have to mow as often, while other times, you might want a longer cutting length to promote healthy, lush growth.
- Grass clipping options: Some mowers leave the cut grass on the lawn, some mulch it first, and some bag it. Decide how you want to handle your grass clippings and buy a mower that has your preferred capability!
- Engine type and power: Gas-powered mowers tend to have more power and range but are loud and produce more emissions. Electric and battery-powered options are quieter and greener but may have limited power or battery life, or you may have to deal with a cord. Choose the type that best fits your needs!
- Self-propulsion: As we mentioned earlier, if you buy a walk-behind mower, consider one that’s self-propelled if pushing a mower fatigues you. Self-propelled mowers are especially nice for hilly terrains.
- Ease of use: Finally, many mowers have ergonomic features such as adjustable handles, comfortable grips, easy-start systems, and user-friendly controls. Trust me—when you invest in a comfortable user experience, your lawn will look much nicer because you’ll no longer dread the task of mowing!
Top 10 Mower Brands
Besides looking at mower types and features, choosing a reputable brand is also important. Here is a basic rundown of some brands with a reputation for making high-quality mowers.
- Honda mowers are reliable, with powerful engines and advanced features. Honda produces both commercial-grade and residential-grade mowers, and they are a bit higher priced.
- EGO is a newer, mid-priced mower brand that makes high-performance, battery-powered mowers. They primarily produce residential-grade mowers.
- Husqvarna produces a wide range of lawnmowers, including commercial, residential, and robotic mowers. They have a reputation for quality and durability and are in the mid-to-high price range.
- ECHO is known for producing powerful commercial-grade mowers with excellent mulching capabilities and easy-to-use controls. They are a mid-priced brand.
- Craftsman is a good option if you’re looking for an affordable, high-quality residential-grade mower. They’re known for their innovative features and excellent customer support.
- Bradley Mowers are durable, heavy-duty mowers with innovative features like hydrostatic drive and blade brake clutches. They primarily make commercial mowers but also offer a few residential models.
- Toro is a favorite brand among professional landscapers. Their mowers are known for their durability, efficiency, and excellent mulching capabilities. Toro makes both residential and commercial-grade lawnmowers that are mid-to-high priced.
- Ferris produces commercial-grade mowers with advanced suspension systems that offer a smoother ride and better cut quality. They’re a higher-priced brand.
- Snapper offers a variety of commercial and residential-grade lawnmowers, including self-propelled and electric models. They have a reputation for creating durable mowers that are easy to use, with both affordable and mid-priced options.
- John Deere offers a wide range of mowers with excellent cutting power and durability. They provide both commercial and residential mowers and are mid to high-priced.
Finding a Local Lawn Mower Dealership
Now that you’ve done your background research, you probably have some idea of what kind of mower you’d like to buy.
Now what?
Well, now it’s time to head to your local lawn mower dealership!
While it may be tempting to buy your mower online or at a big box store, the experts at your local dealership will be able to answer all your questions, bring up considerations you haven’t thought of, and help you find the mower that’s right for your lawn and budget.
Not only that, but a mower is an investment. When you run into problems or need repairs, you want to have a relationship with an expert you can rely on. You can get that prompt, personalized service by working with a local dealership.
If you live in southeast Pennsylvania, in Lancaster or Chester County, stop by Steveco Power for all your lawn mowing needs!
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Call or text us today, or stop in and see us! We look forward to helping you.