Home Improvement Ideas - Lawnmowers: A Buyer's Guide

There are dozens of lawn mowers on the market, each one suited for a different size lawn and a different type lawn. Prosepective buyers must familiarize themselves with available models before they buy.

It's time to get a lawn mower. Which lawn mower should you get?

There are so many lawn mowers on the market that at first blush the new consumer might find all the features offered to be confusing. There's no need to be. If you know the needs of your lawn, buying a lawn mower is a snap.

How big is your lawn?

If you have a small lawn - than consider getting a battery-operated lawn mower. They, like electrical lawnmowers, don't need gasoline and so they don't emit pollutants into the air. A battery operated mower is rechargeable, and the battery itself will typically last about five years before you need to replace it. Depending on whether or not the battery is a lead acid battery or a nickel cadmium battery, you will need to recycle it properly.

For slightly larger lawns, an electrical mower will work fine. The problem that most people have with the electrical mower is the power cord, which trails behind and, if the operator is inattentive, can get snarled or tangled in something and cause delays. You won't want to operate an electrical mower if there are young children around, as children do have a tendency to like to play with things they shouldn't.

Gasoline-powered lawn mowers are still the most popular, and depending on how large your lawn is, the most convenient. If you have a very large lawn, then you'll want to consider getting a riding mower.

How much does it cost?

If you're going to spend a couple hundred dollars on a lawn mower, you want to know that it is a high quality one that will last you for a long time. There are plenty of places on the web which offers comparison reports on the many lawn mower brands, so that you'll know you're getting the best one when it comes to ease of uses, quality of parts, and reliability.

If you want to get a new lawn-mower, paradoxically the best time to buy one is when wintwe hits, when hardware stores and garden shops want to clear their floor space for other items such as snow blowers. (Equally, the best time to buy a snow blower is at the end of the winter season.)

Whichever type of lawn mower you decide to get - battery-operated, electrical, gasoline powered, and whatever brand, make sure you take care of it properly. Sharpen the blades on a regular basis - that will save wear and tear both on your grass and on the lawn mower engine, and winterize it properly.

Properly cared for, your new lawnmower will successfully turn into your old, reliable mower.

Andrew Caxton is a syndicated writer of http://www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com . A website with tips on lawnmowers, amongst many related topics.