Tips to Help You Find the Best Lawnmower for You and Your Yard
Now that the warm weather has finally arrived, it’s time to start taking care of your lawn for the season.
Whether you find pleasure in creating a perfectly manicured lawn, or you just do it because you have to, mowing the lawn can go smoothly with the right lawnmower.
So if you need a new Honda lawnmower because your old mower just won’t cut it anymore, use this guide before you start taking on more work than you need to.
From the size of your yard to ease-of-use, here’s everything you should consider when searching for the right lawnmower.
Start by Evaluating Your Yard
The size, texture, and elevation of your lawn will affect how easy or difficult it is to mow. So start with these three factors when deciding on the best lawnmower for you.
How Big is Your Lawn?
If you don’t know the size of your yard, measure the length and width of your lawn. To determine the size of your lawn in acres, multiply the length (in feet) by width (in feet), and divide by 43560.
Small to medium lawns are under ½ an acre, while large lawns are greater than ½ an acre.
If your yard is:
- Less than 2,000 square feet, consider a manual reel mower (but not if your grass is thick and tall). For lawns small enough to be mowed within reach of a 100-foot extension cord, consider an electric mower, especially if the grass is thick.
- Up to ¼ of an acre, an electric cordless mower will work.
- ¼ acre to ½+ acres, walk-behind self-propelled gas mowers are the best since the wheels are powered, making pushing easier.
- Up to 15,000 square feet, cordless and gas mowers are ideal.
- ½ acre or more, you’ll want a mower with a seat—a gas riding lawnmower, either a riding tractor or a zero-turn-radius mower.
What’s the Grass Like?
If your lawn is well-maintained with few weeds, then it will be easy to cut with any type of mower. But if your lawn is overgrown with plenty of weeds and brush, you will need a larger mower to chop it down.
For a lawn with tall and thick grass, a gas-powered, self-propelled lawnmower will have enough power to cut the lawn without over-exerting yourself.
And if you need to cut grass around trees, shrubs, and gardens, a compact lawnmower will be easier to use.
Is There a Slope or Incline?
For flat terrain, reel (push) mowers and electric mowers will work.
If you have a property with hills, consider a self-propelled, gas-powered lawnmower with rear- or all-wheel drive to help you get up the hills with ease. Keep in mind that hills might be too dangerous for ride-on mowers
For rough terrain, you’ll need a mower with high rear wheels.
And if your lawn has curves and obstacles, a self-propelled, gas-powered lawnmower is ideal since the front-wheel drive allows for easy maneuverability.
Which Lawnmower Is Best For Me?
Push/Reel Mowers
Push mowers, also known as reel mowers, are the most basic type of lawnmower available. Instead of running on gas or electricity, reel mowers are manually operated by pushing the mower across the lawn with a reel of blades.
These small, quiet, and lightweight mowers are ideal for the smallest lawns with flat terrain and getting into tight spaces.
Electric Mowers
Electric corded lawnmowers work well for small and medium lawns with each corner of the yard being within reach of a 100-foot extension cord. Electric mowers also work well to cut thick grass and are quieter than gas mowers.
Cordless self-propelled lawnmowers also run on electricity. However, these use rechargeable batteries instead of extension cords, so they have the benefits of corded electric lawnmowers with greater reach. But with cordless mowers, an extra battery will likely be needed to mow an entire lawn that is 1/4 acre to ½ acre in size without stopping.
Gas Mowers
Gas mowers are strong enough for mowing tall, thick grass and large lawns up to a half acre or more. Gas mowers are available in push and self-propelled models.
Self-propelled gas lawnmowers are the most convenient type since they are easy to operate. Self-propelled means the motor powers the wheels, which makes pushing the mower much more comfortable, even on slopes and hills.
These mowers reduce the exertion and strain of pushing a lawnmower so that you can save time and energy, and you won’t be stuck out in the sun for long. Self-propelled mowers also have electric starters, making for an easy start every time.
Self-propelled lawnmowers are available with the following systems:
- Front Wheel Drive (FWD)—provides excellent traction on flat terrain and maneuverability around trees, shrubs, and garden beds.
- Rear Wheel Drive (RWD)—ideal for cutting thick grass and provides excellent traction on all terrains (flat and sloped).
- All-Wheel Drive (AWD)—the best lawnmower for slopes, hills, and uneven terrain.
Ride-On Mowers
A ride-on mower is recommended for mowing properties that are one or more acres. Ride-on mowers come in two styles—riding lawn tractors and zero turn mowers.
Lawn tractors have a steering wheel and a front-mounted engine. While these provide an even cut across lawns and are ideal on sloped terrains, they are not ideal for maneuverability. But they can be used in winter to plow snow.
Zero turn mowers, on the other hand, are ideal for maneuvering around trees, shrubs, and flower beds. But they do not steer as well as lawn tractors on sloped terrain.
These mowers can turn in place around one of the rear wheels when you push one of the two steering levers. And since the engines are mounted in the back, you will have a clear view of the lawn in front of you
What Should You Look For In A Lawnmower?
Fuel/Energy Efficiency
Lawnmowers with variable-speed transmissions allow you to customize the speed of your mower, which can help improve its energy efficiency instead of running at one high speed continuously.
Blade Quality
If you don’t want grass clippings left all over your yard, consider mowers with mulching blades. These mowers grind the grass into tiny particles that will be absorbed into the ground, serving as nitrogen-rich food for the soil.
Reliability
To find a reliable lawnmower that will help you mow your lawn for many years to come, consider buying one from a reputable dealer.
If your old lawnmower just doesn’t cut it anymore, find a new one that will. Visit your local Honda ATV dealer to find the right Honda lawnmowers for you and your lawn so you can save time and energy this summer.