Lawn mowers – Page 16 – BackyardGadget

Table of Contents What makes a lawn mower ideal for women?Easy to startEasy to pushAs quiet as possibleLow on maintenanceAs eco-friendly as possibleAdjustable handleEasy storageThe 4 best lawn mowers for womenGreenworks 25322 16-Inch 40V Cordless Lawn MowerAmerican Lawn Mower Company 50514 14-Inch 11-Amp Corded Electric Lawn MowerLawn-Boy 17734 21-Inch Self Propelled Lawn MowerGreenworks 21-Inch 40V Self-Propelled Cordless Lawn MowerHow to select the right lawn mowerHow big is your yard? Recently, my mother has been looking into buying a new lawn mower. Her husband went through heart surgery not too long ago, so he can't do as much work around the house like he used to, and I can't be there all the time to help out. Our old MTD lawn mower While she can mow the lawn with relative ease, their old MTD mower has been giving her more and more trouble lately (it's over 15 years old) so she decided it's time to get a new one. She asked me if I know any good lawn mowers that I would recommend for women - and I figured this would make for a great article. There are a lot of reliable mowers out there, many of which have features that make them ideal for women. But before we get into that, let me show you what criteria I used to assemble my list of recommendations. What makes a lawn mower ideal for women? When I asked my mom what features would she prefer her new mower to have, she gave me a rough idea of what she had in mind. She also outlined a few key issues she had with the old one they currently own. Taking these into consideration, I have managed to narrow down my list of recommendations to about 4 models. But before we get to the list, check out her requirements for an ideal lawn mower - and see if they apply to you: Easy to start One of the main problems my mother had with their old MTD lawn mower is that it took way too much effort to start it up. It's an old gas powered model with a pull cord. At times it took 15 minutes to fire up the engine even for me, and while cleaning the spark plug did help a bit, my mom would rather get rid of the cord entirely. I found her decision reasonable as their medium-sized yard hardly justifies owning a gas powered mower anyway, and with today's technology electric or even battery powered mowers are a great alternative. On the other hand, a gas powered mower can still be a good choice if they have some kind of easy start feature - or if you personally have no problems starting them with a pull cord. Easy to push Our old mower is quite heavy to begin with. Add a grass bag full of wet weeds and it becomes quite a challenge to move it around. A possible solution to this problem is to simply get a mower that is relatively light - but the lightest models usually need an extension cord, which comes with its own set of restrictions. The best solution however, is to get a self-propelled lawn mower. If you don't know what that is, it's basically a mower that has a built in mechanism that propels it forward without you having to do anything - you only have to guide it in the right direction. If you still aren't sure how it works, check out this article I've written about self propelled lawn mowers. As quiet as possible This may not be important for everyone out there, but my mom wanted her new mower to be as neighbor friendly as possible. The reason for this is that more often than not she can only tend to her yard late in the evening, when some people might be sleeping already. This further pushed me in the direction of electric and battery powered mowers (they are by far the most quiet), but I realize other people may have different needs. For example if you have a large property where mowing the lawn takes well over an hour to finish, or you just tend to let your grass overgrow, a gas powered mower is probably still your best option. Low on maintenance She also mentioned that she doesn't want to spend a lot of money on the mower after the initial purchase. This is a tricky one, because additional costs can arise regardless of what type of mower you decide to buy in the end. First of all, you will have to sharpen the blades from time to time. This can be done at home, but sometimes a rock or piece of concrete that you didn't notice in time can mess them up for good. This usually means buying a new set of blades. Gas powered mowers require fuel to run, that you have to purchase every time you want to use them. Apart from that, they also have a spark plug that will need to be replaced from time to time, although it really isn't a huge expense. Still, these models require the most money to operate. On the other hand, electric and battery powered lawn mowers are generally easy to maintain. The only thing I can think of is the battery reaching the end of its life cycle (the ones built with the new Li-ion technology last for many years). Or maybe you accidentally run over your extension cord with your mower. Either way, I can't think of many additional expenses arising with these two types. As eco-friendly as possible This might by a stereotype, but I feel like women are generally more environmentally conscious than men. This is certainly the case with my mom, who wanted a mower that leaves as small of a carbon footprint as possible. Fortunately, manufacturers nowadays are paying more and more attention to these concerns, so there are plenty of good options out there. Obviously, electric lawn mowers are the most "green" of the lot, as they have zero harmful emissions. But even a newly purchased gas powered model is less harmful to the environment than one from 20 or even 10 years ago. This is because the engines made today use fuel more efficiently, or the mower itself has some additional filter to reduce emissions. Either way, I'll keep this in mind while compiling my list. Adjustable handle Although this isn't a huge issue, she had constant problems with the old mower's handle being a bit too high for her to be comfortable. This caused her arms to get tired needlessly, so my goal was to find mowers with adjustable handles. Fortunately, nowadays most mowers come with this feature. Easy storage Storage space is a constant problem here We have a constant problem with our garden shed being full of various tools and materials, so the new mower would (ideally) have to be a compact one. Or at the very least, have some feature that makes it easy to store it in a small space. One such feature is a foldable handle, but not all mowers come with this mechanism so I'll keep an eye out for anything that can make storing them easier. The 4 best lawn mowers for women And with that we have finally arrived to the main part of this article. As you can see there are quite a few things I had to consider while assembling my list of recommendations. Because of this, there isn't a single mower that ticks all of the boxes - for example a gas powered mower can have an easy start mechanism, but it won't be particularly quiet no matter what you do. That being said, I tried to select models that have as many good features as possible. Also, I made sure to include different types of mowers (corded, battery and gas powered) so that I have something for everyone, depending on their needs. Without further ado, here are the lawn mowers that I personally recommend for women, in no particular order (okay, except for the first one): Greenworks 25322 16-Inch 40V Cordless Lawn Mower First of all, let me state that this is the mower we'll most likely end up buying for my mom. It fits her needs the best out of all of them, and you'll soon see why. Is it also the best choice for you? Read along to find out. If you are a regular reader of my blog, you probably know that I'm a big fan of the Greenworks brand. They are mostly known for their wide range of yard care power tools, many of which are battery powered. This mower is no different, it runs on a 40V, 4.0 AH battery. Running on battery makes it very quiet for a lawn mower, you could probably even listen to music through your earbuds while cutting grass. In fact, it generates 50% less noise and vibration than a gas powered mower according to the manufacturer. It can run for up to 60 minutes with a single charge, and the battery only takes about 30-40 minutes to fully charge from zero. The handle is easily adjustable, so you won't have any problems if you are a bit shorter or taller than average. Also, the whole handle can be easily folded back on top of the mower, which makes it take up a lot less space when you are not using it. Another feature I really like on this mower is how easy it is to adjust the cutting height. It has a small lever on the side (it kinda looks like a gear shift lever) with 5 different settings. With this, you can adjust the cutting height from 1-1/4-inch to 3-3/8-inch, depending on your needs and environment. It is worth mentioning that this is a medium-sized mower - the cutting deck is only 16". This makes it ideal for small or medium sized yards where you have to maneuver to avoid flowers and various other objects. This is also supported by the 6-inch front and 7-inch rear wheels that make turning the mower an easy task. As for the handling of grass, it has both rear bagging and mulching capabilities, so you can even use it to mulch leaves during fall. The only downside to this mower is that it isn't self-propelled, but it's pretty light to begin with (only 37.5 lbs) so it shouldn't be a problem to move it around. Also, being a Greenworks product means its battery is interchangeable with other Greenworks products of the same battery size. So if you decide to buy it, you can also get a string trimmer for all those hard to reach areas. They are much cheaper if you buy them without the battery. But that is just an example, there are many other tools that use this type of battery. Standout features Up to 60 minutes run time with a single charge Easily adjustable cutting height Easily adjustable handle which also makes it easy to store Rear bagging or mulching 16" cutting deck Only weighs 37.5 lbs 50% less noisy than gas powered mowers Good maneuverability Battery interchangeable with many other Greenworks products Overall, I find this mower to be a pretty solid choice. You can check the current price on Amazon. American Lawn Mower Company 50514 14-Inch 11-Amp Corded Electric Lawn Mower Next up on our list is a corded lawn mower, manufactured by the company American Lawn Mower - pretty self explanatory, huh? This mower is ideal for people with smaller yards, and also for people who are on a budget. The 14" cutting deck means this model is one of the smaller ones out there, but that really isn't an issue if the area you intend to use it on is also of limited size. Also, the small size didn't stop them from adding some really nice features on this mower. First of all, it runs on a 11-Amp motor. This means that it's pretty strong for its size, delivering power comparable to that of a smaller gas powered lawn mower. The motor also doesn't need oil or fuel to run, so upkeep costs will be pretty low. Like the Greenworks I talked about earlier, this one also comes with rear bagging and mulching capabilities. One of the things I really like about this mower is that the bag it comes with is semi-transparent, which makes it easy to tell just how full it is. This mower isn't self-propelled either, but with a weight of only 25.4 pounds that is hardly an issue. The handle is also easily adjustable, and you can also fold it backwards which makes storing it an easy task. The cutting height is also easily adjustable with a lever placed on one of the front wheels - something I rarely see on mowers of this size. It has five different positions, cutting height can be adjusted from 1" all the way up to 2.5". Standout features Small size and low cost makes it ideal for smaller yards 14" cutting deck Adjustable handle for user comfort and easy storage Easy to tell if the bag is full Adjustable cutting height Only weighs 25.4 lbs Powerful for its size As you can see, this mower does have its own set of limitations, but it's a great choice if you have a small yard and don't want to spend too much. You can check the current price on Amazon. Lawn-Boy 17734 21-Inch Self Propelled Lawn Mower The next mower on our list is a gas powered one. I wanted to include one of these for the people who have to cover large areas, or just don't like dealing with batteries and cords in general. Out of all of the gas powered mowers I looked at, this one seems to have the best features, and you will soon see what I'm talking about. First of all, this version has an electric starting mechanism - you can start the engine by turning a key, just like a car. This means no pulling cord, which is a godsend for many people. Said mechanism will start a 149cc Kohler engine, which makes it quite powerful, so you probably won't have any problems mowing even the tallest of grass. Then there is the fact that this is a self propelled lawn mower (rear wheel drive), which makes the whole mowing process a lot easier, especially on sharp inclines. It also features a 21" cutting deck, making it a good choice for bigger yards. Also, it has a 3 in 1 discharge ability, meaning you can choose between rear bagging, mulching and side discharge. Cutting height is also adjustable with the levers placed on two of the wheels. The bag that comes with it is rather large and has a big opening. This is good, because you will have an easier time emptying it, and you'll also have to do it less often. Another thing worth mentioning is that this mower is CARB compliant for the state of California - meaning that it's as "green" as a gas powered lawn mower can get nowadays. So, to recap: Standout features Powerful 149cc engine Electric start system 21" cutting deck 3 in 1 discharge ability Self-propelled Comes with a big grass bag that is easy to empty CARB compliant Overall, I find this to be a great lawn mower. If I had to buy another gas powered mower for my mother, it would be this one. You can check the current price on Amazon. Greenworks 21-Inch 40V Self-Propelled Cordless Lawn Mower Out of all of the mowers on my list, this one probably has the best features and build quality. Yes, it's another battery powered model from Greenworks. But while the previous one I mentioned is better for small to medium sized yards, this mower can handle rough terrain such as slopes way easier. It also has a big downside, but more on that later. It has a 21-Inch steel cutting deck, making it easier to cover large areas. Also, it comes with a self-propelling mechanism, making it all that much easier to move it around. You can engage and disengage the self-propel drive manually with a lever found on the handle bar. The only caveat to this is that since it only propels the mower forward, you have to disengage it if you want to pull it backwards. Otherwise you will find that pulling your mower takes more effort than it should. I just thought this is worth mentioning, since I saw a lot of angry reviews on the internet complaining about not being able to pull the mower backwards. This mower also features a brushless motor - this new technology is superior to older types, resulting in longer motor life and higher torque to weight ratio. It also has a dual battery port, meaning it can take in two batteries at once. This allows for longer run time if you have two batteries, but this isn't as good as it sounds (more on this later). Oddly enough, I couldn't find any information regarding the weight of this lawn mower, but with a steel cutting deck, a brushless motor and a port for two batteries it is bound to be one of the heavier models out there. That being said, with the self-propel mechanism this really shouldn't be a problem. Another good feature it has is the vertical storage function. Not only can you bend the handle backwards for easier storage, it also has these small "legs" on it - allowing you to store your mower in a standing position. This allows it to take about 70% less space than a normal mower of the same size would. This is arguably the best solution I've seen so far. As for discharging grass clippings, you can choose between rear bagging, mulching, or side discharge. Speaking of grass, this mower also comes with adjustable cutting height. This can be done with a single lever that has 7 settings ranging from 1-3/8'' to 3-3/4''. Standout features One of the few battery powered mowers that is also self-propelled Self-propelling mechanism makes the whole mowing process effortless Can handle inclines easier than normal mowers Vertical storage functionality Single lever adjustable cutting height Brushless motor for increased motor life Less noisy than gas powered lawn mowers Great build quality 21" cutting deck The downside You may notice that I haven't really listed any downsides for the other mowers on my list. This is because those downsides come from the size or type of the mower, and if they really bother you then those simply aren't the right mowers for you, and you can buy one that fits your needs better. But that isn't the case with this one. Remember when I talked about the dual battery port? It is advertised as some extra that offers increased run time, but I feel like it's simply a necessity in order to use the mower for a reasonable amount of time. Think about it. This mower uses a 40V battery, same as its smaller sibling I talked about earlier. But it has a bigger cutting deck, and a self-propel drive. This will automatically mean lower run time. After digging through some comments online, I have confirmed my suspicion. Users have reported they can only cut for about 20 to 30 minutes with a single battery, depending on the length of the grass. Now, if you want to buy a mower of this size it is reasonable to assume you want to use it longer than that. And so, you can either stop your mowing midway and come back when your battery is fully charged, or buy an extra battery. Of course, there is nothing wrong with tools that use two batteries. I just don't like the way it is advertised (an extra, rather than a necessity). That being said, if I were to recommend a lawn mower that runs on battery AND is also self-propelled, this would be the one. Just buy an extra battery. You can check the current price on Amazon. How to select the right lawn mower The mowers listed above all have good features that make them a good choice for women, but picking the best one can be confusing. This is especially true if you are a new homeowner and/or never had to deal with lawn mowers before. The various features I have talked about before are all good things to look for in a lawn mower, but there is one factor that should influence your decision above all, and that is the size of you yard (or the area you intend to use it on). How big is your yard? Generally, the bigger the yard the bigger the lawn mower you'll need. This doesn't mean that you can't mow a large area with a small lawn mower, but it will take longer than necessary. Additionally, with electric mowers you also have to consider the run time of the battery, or the length of your extension cord. For smaller yards, I'd suggest the battery powered Greenworks 16-Inch lawn mower, or the corded one made by the American Lawn Mower company. These two have smaller cutting decks and are very light, so you can easily maneuver even in those hard to reach places. For medium-sized lawns I'd probably stick to the 16-Inch Greenworks, but at this point it might be worth it to buy one of the bigger ones with a 21" cutting deck. A bigger cutting deck can significantly reduce your time spent on mowing your lawn, especially if you don't have a lot of obstacles. However, if the area you have to cover has many steep inclines, it might be worth it to get one of the self-propelling mowers regardless of the overall size of the area. And finally, if you have endless fields of grass in your back yard, I wouldn't recommend anything smaller than the 21" Greenworks or the Lawn-Boy 17734. With a large area the self-propelling mechanism really shines, and the 21-Inch cutting deck will make the whole process a lot faster too. Conclusion And with that, we have reached the end of this article. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it. As always, if you have any questions do let me know. Until next time.