The smell of cut grass and a cold drink in hand is what many people associate with summer and their lawn mowing chore. Others simply dread the job, but they begin preparing their lawn mower for the coming season as they do every spring. Lawns being mowed is a sight associated with summer in many parts of the world.

There are a few issues to consider when choosing the most appropriate mower for each lawn. Different features make each yard unique. How large it is, if it has steep inclines or is relatively flat, light or heavy tree coverage or pathways and ponds, all have to be taken into account. As far as the mower is concerned, is a narrow cutting path on the chosen mower going to be adequate, or is wide blade coverage important?

From the smallest non-motorized push mower, to the largest garden tractor, there are five basic sizes of lawn mower available today. Beside those just mentioned, there are walk-behind mowers, riding mowers, and lawn tractors. The only one that is not motorized, the reel push mower, is the oldest style still in use today. It has a scissor motion from its five to eight spiral blades. They are lighter than their predecessors and easier to handle, but are best suited to small yards of about 8,000 square feet or less.

Probably the most commonly seen mower in city and suburban neighborhoods is the walk-behind push mower. They are best suited to yards up to half an acre, and have engines starting at 5.5 horse power. They generally have from 18 to 22 inch cutting paths. Some are self-propelled, meaning they assist in moving forward. This can be helpful in yards with steep inclines, or a lot of rolling smaller hills, or simply to make the job a little easier. While usually gas operated, these mowers come in battery and electric versions as well.

For yards that are more than half an acre, professionals recommend a riding mower. Their cutting paths range from 28 to 36 inches, much wider than that of a walk-behind, and they have 11.5 to 13 horsepower engines. A riding lawn mower tends to put an end to the disappearing child routine at mowing time. Instead, children volunteer for the now “fun” job of lawn care.

The next size up, the lawn tractor, is very similar to the riding mower, but is a class bigger. Again, the horse power jumps up, this time to 18 to 24, depending on the machine. It is suitable for one to three acres with its cutting path of up to 46 inches. They cost more than riding mowers, but have the advantages of being able to take attachments like spreaders or carts, and are more stable.

Professional landscapers need a machine that has serious power and can perform many jobs. Garden tractors have the largest engines and can be outfitted with professional size plows and tillers, and even winter equipment like snow blowers. Their extra wide cutting path also makes them the machine of choice for commercial lawn and landscaping companies.

Finding the right lawn mower can be less difficult if the person takes into account their budget and the size and layout of their lawn. There is a mower that fits each lawn’s needs.

Kevin Young owns a best lawn mower blog. He enjoys gardening and writing blogs. He has few recommendations for the best cheap lawn mower in his lawn mower reviews blog.

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