Are Lawnmowers Worth It? All You Need To Know


Is it really worth owning a lawnmower? After all, they’re expensive to buy and will need regular maintenance to keep running efficiently. There’s also the cost of the gas or electricity they use every time you mow the grass. But you know that they can really make a difference in creating a healthy and beautiful lawn. So how do you decide?

Whether it’s a manual push-along reel mower or one that runs on gasoline, lawnmowers can help you quickly mow large grassy areas. With a variety of features and price points, there are models to suit every household’s budget.

In this article, I’ll explore the effectiveness and value of owning a lawnmower for the average homeowner. Keep reading to find out about the various kinds of mowers out there and how using one can really benefit your lawn.

Benefits of Owning a Lawnmower

There are several benefits to owning a lawnmower including saving time and money, convenience, and the ability to mow the grass in your own way. Let’s go over these in more detail.

Saving Time

If you have a decent-sized patch of grass, you will have to cut it in some way to keep it looking neat and tidy. You could use a string trimmer of course but that would be very time-consuming and it’s difficult to get a perfectly neat finish this way.

Another option is to use a scythe, which is a great alternative if you are keen on protecting the environment, but again can take a while and requires a certain amount of skill to get the best results (I have previously written about the benefits and downsides of scythes compared to a lawnmower here).

The only other alternatives are to either hire someone with their own mower or borrow one each time you need to mow your lawn.

Convenience

Instead of waiting for a professional service to show up or borrowing a neighbor’s lawnmower every time the grass gets too long, owning a lawnmower allows you to mow your lawn whenever it suits you.

That really makes a difference if you need to cut it before an event like a family BBQ or to catch a dry spell in between rain bands.

Saving Money

Though there are initial costs involved in purchasing a lawnmower, it ultimately saves money in the long run. If you hire a professional service, the costs quickly add up, and you may not even get a good job.

With your own lawnmower, you have total control over getting the desired results, and you can use the equipment for several years with minimal maintenance and running costs.

If you are curious about how much a lawnmower costs, you can read more about it here

Mow The Grass The Way You Like It

With the power of a lawnmower in your hands, you can craft the perfect look for your outdoor space.

You have complete control over the way your grass is cut and can even create a pattern such as stripes or a checkerboard effect for maximum impact. (If you aren’t sure how you can mow your lawn and make it look great, you can check out this article I wrote a while ago.)

You can also mow it as often as you like to maintain the grass at the same height all summer long.

Types of Lawnmowers

There are countless lawnmowers on the market, and making a decision on the best one for you might seem daunting. However, they each have their own specific features that make it easier to choose if you know what to look for. The most common types include reel mowers, push gas-powered lawnmowers, self-propelled mowers, riding and zero-turn mowers.

Manual Push Mowers

The most basic type of lawnmower available is the manual push or reel mower. They’re affordable and easy to use but require physical effort to operate. Best suited for small, flat lawns with no slopes.

Electric or Gas-Powered Push Mowers

Powered push mowers are a step up from reel mowers in terms of capacity and performance. They’re often pricier than their manual counterparts but offer more cutting power and the ability to tackle much larger areas of grass.

Self-Propelled Mowers

These mowers have an added feature that makes them easier to operate than push mowers – they move forward on their own with minimal pushing required. Ideal for larger lawns or hilly terrain, these are the most popular type for most homeowners. More expensive than manual gas-powered mowers.

Riding Mowers

Also known as ride-on mowers, these come in both traditional sit-on models as well as stand-on models which can be more maneuverable in tight spaces. They’re ideal for larger properties or those who want to make lawn care less physically demanding. The downside of these is that they are costly to buy and maintain plus they require a lot of storage space.

Zero-Turn Mowers

A step up from riding mowers, zero-turn models have become increasingly popular due to their ability to turn around in place quickly. This makes them great for getting around obstacles while still cutting grass efficiently. These models tend to be even more expensive than riding mowers and require just as much storage space.

Impact on Lawn Health and Appearance

Regularly trimming your grass with a quality mower promotes healthy growth patterns by encouraging stronger root systems and is a crucial part of a successful lawn care regime.

However, it’s important not to cut too much off at once when using any type of grass-cutting tool – this can cause stress and damage to individual blades of grass resulting in patchy areas throughout your yard.

Most professionals recommend not cutting more than 1/3 off the blade length at each session to help maintain healthy growth patterns without stressing out the grass plants (you can read more about the dangers of cutting your lawn too short in this article).

Conclusion

Owning a lawnmower certainly makes sense if you have any amount of green space around your home – whether a patch of lawn between you and the sidewalk or a large area of grass that makes up most of your backyard.

Regular maintenance keeps your property looking neat while promoting healthy growth patterns and it’s so much easier if you have your own mower rather than rely on a contractor or borrowing one.

Budget limitations need careful consideration before final purchase decisions regarding what type would work best alongside the setup of your specific yard.

The decision ultimately comes down to personal preference but if you want to keep your property looking great all season long, I would definitely recommend looking into buying a lawnmower!

Peter Toth

Hi! I'm Peter, the owner of BackyardGadget. Working around the house has always been a big part of my life. I've created this site to share my experience, and to help people choose the right tools for the job. Thank you for stopping by!

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