**The Ultimate Guide to Lawn Mowers: Choosing the Right One for Your Needs**

When it comes to maintaining a lush and well-manicured lawn, having the right mower is essential. With so many options available, from traditional tractors to innovative robotic mowers, choosing the perfect one can be daunting. In this article, we'll delve into the world of lawn mowers, exploring the different types, their features, and what to consider when making your decision.

**Zero-Turn Riders (ZTRs): A Popular Choice for Lawn Care**

Zero-turn riders (ZTRs) are a popular choice among lawn care enthusiasts due to their versatility and performance. These mowers feature a rear engine and rear wheel steering, allowing for effortless maneuverability and cutting widths ranging from 42 to 60 inches. Most ZTRs come equipped with a set of levers that accelerate, steer, and brake, providing a smooth and controlled mowing experience. However, this design can be tricky to master, especially for those new to the technology. To combat this, more manufacturers are now offering ZTRs with steering wheels, making it easier to navigate and control.

One of the standout features of ZTRs is their ability to turn circles in one place, making them the fastest way to cut your grass. They can also side discharge, bag, or mulch your grass clippings, providing a convenient and efficient mowing experience. However, on hills, ZTRs can lose traction and are hard to steer and control, especially at higher speeds. Additionally, if not careful, the rear steering wheels can tear up your grass during turns.

**Rear-Engine Riders: A Cost-Effective Alternative**

For those looking for a more affordable option, rear-engine riders offer a viable alternative to ZTRs and tractors. These mowers feature an engine located in the back, providing better trimming visibility and taking up less space when stored. Rear-engine riders are also less expensive than ZTRs or tractors, with prices ranging from $1,000 to $1,600.

While rear-engine riders provide decent cutting quality, they tend to be slower and less maneuverable than ZTRs or tractors. They also have narrower cutting widths, typically ranging from 24 to 33 inches. However, for those looking for a budget-friendly option with good value for money, rear-engine riders can be an excellent choice.

**Key Features to Consider**

When choosing the perfect mower for your lawn care needs, there are several key features to consider. Infinite drive speeds is like having an automatic transmission for your mower, providing effortless acceleration and deceleration. An electric power take-off (PTO) engages the blade electrically, eliminating the need for manual engagement.

A reverse function allows you to mow in tight areas or navigate obstacles with ease. Having a fuel level gauge on the dashboard is convenient, allowing you to monitor your fuel levels while riding. Hour meters track the number of hours the engine has been operating, ensuring you stay aware of when maintenance is required.

Additional features to consider include washout ports, which make it easy to clean the blade by connecting a hose and letting the machine do the work for you. This feature is especially convenient for those who struggle with getting under the tractor or mower. Finally, having an app-based interface can be beneficial, allowing you to program and control your mower remotely.

**Robot Mowers: The Future of Lawn Care**

While traditional mowers offer a reliable and efficient mowing experience, robot mowers are revolutionizing the industry with their innovative technology and convenience. Robot mowers use GPS and sensors to navigate your lawn autonomously, automatically returning to their charging station when complete. This feature allows for unparalleled flexibility, as you can program your mower to mow at specific times or intervals.

No matter which mower you choose, proper maintenance is essential to ensure optimal performance and longevity. Here are some top tips from Consumer Reports:

**Tips for Proper Mower Maintenance**

Store your mower in a covered space to protect it from the elements.

Wash away grass clippings after each use to prevent clogging and damage.

Have the blades sharpened at the start of each season, and about three to four more times afterwards. Sharp blades save fuel and cut the grass more cleanly, making it healthier.

Set the bedknife to ensure a clean and even cut. Replace spark plugs every 100 hours or two to three years. Change the oil according to the manufacturer's instructions.

For ride-ons, check the manual for oil change intervals and ensure you're following recommended maintenance procedures. For walk-behind mowers, change the air filters regularly and inspect the tire pressure at the start of each season.

**Mowing Safety**

Finally, it's essential to prioritize mowing safety when operating your mower. Wear hearing protection to protect yourself from loud noises, keep children and pets away from running mowers, and be careful mowing on hills. Most manufacturers include a diagram in the owner's manual that can help you determine if the slopes in your yard are too steep or uneven for safe mowing.

In conclusion, choosing the right mower for your lawn care needs requires careful consideration of several factors, including type, features, and maintenance requirements. By understanding the benefits and limitations of each option, you'll be able to make an informed decision that meets your unique needs and preferences.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enEvery year in thedead of winter,Consumer Reports Chief PowerEquipment Tester Peter Sawchukheads to Florida.Tough gig, right?Actually, he spends sixweeks cutting, mulching,and bagging onfive acres of grassto test which lawnmowers makethe Consumer Reports cut,all so you have an easiertime when you go shopping.You'll want to matcha mower to your lawn.There are three majorcategories, manual reel,walk-behind, and riding mowers.Looking to put the manualback in manual labor?The reel mower offersa touch of nostalgia.When you push this mower, itturns a series of curved bladesthat cut your grass.Generally, reel mowersrun from $70 to $200and have a cutting widthof 14 to 18 inches.Reel mowers are best for smallplots of land, about an eighthof an acre.They're quiet, inexpensive,relatively safe to operate,easy to maintain, and good forthe environment since there'sno gas engine.But, our experts say,keep these things in mindbefore buying oneof these throwbacks.Reel mowers tend tobounce over bumpy terrain.If your yard surface is uneven,consider a different styleof mower or look for one withoutsmall front wheels that mightget stuck in divots or holes.You'll need to keep your grassheight under three inchesor it will get too hard to cut.That means trimmingmore frequently,roughly every four days inthe height of growing season.Reel mowers leave grassclippings on your lawn.So if you don'tlike that, you'llhave to get outa rake or blower.But clippings are agood source of nitrogen.Walk-behind mowers are themost popular mowers in America.They're best for small to mediumsized lots, about a half acre,depending on whichtype you choose.They use a spinning rotaryblade to slice through grass,and usually have a cuttingwidth of 15 to 22 inches.You can choosebetween models thatrun on gasoline engines, batterypower, or an electric powercord.More on that in a moment.First, you'll need todecide whether to optfor a push walk-behind moweror a self-propelled one.Push mowers are lessexpensive walk-behinds.A basic one costsless than $200.They can tackle lawnsabout a quarter of an acreor less, and most mulch,bag, and discharge grass.While walk-behind push mowerssupply power to the blades,keep in mind, you're stilldoing all the pushing.Look for a pushmower with littleto no flex in the handlebar.That way, you cankeep a sturdy grip.You'll find models sportingthis indentation morecomfortable to hold.Self-propelledmodels do everythingthe push modelscan, but can handlebigger yards than pushmowers, generally,anything under an acre.They're a greatplace to start if youdon't want to do all thepushing because the engine alsodrives the wheels.They typically comewith cutting widthsof about 21 to 22 inches,and range from $250 to $800,depending onfeatures you choose.You'll see side valve andoverhead valve gas engines.Overhead valve engines are apremium option and only costabout $20 more.Plus, they starteasier, are quieter,and tend to last longer.Look for the lettersOHV on the engine.Next choice, singleor variable speeds.Single speed, self-propelledmowers tend to cost less.But variable speeds let you movefaster when the job is easier,or slow down for thick grass.Variable speeds are availablein front, rear, and all wheeldrive.If you've got arelatively flat lawn,a front wheel drive mowermay be all you need.If you've got hills,Consumer Reportssays consider arear wheel drive.It delivers bettertraction on slopes.It also helps if you bag grass.A mower's front wheels tendto rise as the bag in the backfills up.Most single speed mowershave front wheel drive.You'll generally need tomove up to multiple speedmowers for rear wheel drive.All wheel drive mowers boastsuperior traction on hills,but they come at a premium.Now let's talk power.Gasoline mowers performsignificantly betterthan corded electric andbattery powered mowersin Consumer Reports tests.Today's gasoline modelsare easy to start and offerstellar cuttingpower, especiallyin tall, thick grass.Battery powered,walk-behind mowerstypically use a 24 to 80 voltbattery to power the mower.They'll cost $300to $500 or more,depending on whether you wanta push or self-propelled model.They're generally quieterand require less maintenancethan gas engines.But they have smaller cuttingwidths than gasoline mowers,14 to 20 inches.And some batteries can makethe mower heavier and harderto push.Lithium ion batteries arelighter than lead acidbatteries and more powerful.And remember, batteriesrequire some maintenance.They need to be chargedeven in the winter.Skip this step and yourbattery may die for good.A well cared for batterycan last about five years.A new one costs over$100, so factor that in.Then there are corded electrics.They're inexpensive,$160 to $250.But Consumer Reportssays the cordmakes maneuvering extremelydifficult and dangerousif you run over it.And like batterypowered mowers, theyhave smaller cutting widthsthan gasoline mowers.If you're looking foradvanced features,you'll find them mostly onself-propelled walk-behinds.Here are the ones thatour testers like the best.Electric start on gas enginesis easier than pulling a cord.Single lever cuttingheight allowsyou to move the deck up anddown with a single leverrather thanadjusting each wheel.Washout ports make it easyto clean all those clippingsunder the deck.A blade brake engagement controllets you release the handlebarand stop the blade whilethe engine stays on.That way, you can emptythe bag or move an obstacleand not have to restart.If you got more thanan acre of land to mow,or you're mowing for more thanan hour with your walk-behind,it might be time toconsider a riding mower.Almost all ride-ons arepowered by gas engines,but we checked out oneelectric ride-on mowerand we expect to seemore coming to market.Today's riding mowers are a lotmore high tech, often souped uplike cars with hydraulic powersteering, cruise control,satellite radios,smartphone connectors,and some manufacturersnow offer apps thatuse a Bluetoothconnection to tell youwhen it's time for maintenance.Nearly all ride-on mowers areequipped with an overhead valveengine, either single ortwin cylinder engines.Consumer Reports saystwin cylinder enginesprovide a little more power,particularly in heavier grass,run a little smoother, andoffer longer engine life.There are three types ofride-ons, lawn tractors,zero-turn radius mowers, orZTRs, and rear-engine riders.Lawn tractors generallycost $1,000 to $4,000,and have 42 to 54inch cutting decks.They can bag, mulch, orside discharge clippings.You drive with a steeringwheel, and some go as fastas 7 miles per hour.But Consumer Reportssays stick to 3 and 1/2to 4 miles per hour, or you'llend up with clumps of grasson your lawn.Consider a narrow turningradius on a tractorso it's easier to cutaround obstacles like trees.For more money, a few tractorshave four wheel steering,where the front and backwheels turn togetherfor even tighter turning.But Consumer Reportssuggest skipping it.Turning radiuses are narrowingon new two wheel steeringtractors.Many tractors offer addedattachments like snow throwers,plows, and rototillers.We're also seeinghybrid machineslike this utility vehicle.It can mow, tow, andgenerate electrical powerfor all your other tools.Then there arezero-turn radius mowers.This is our highestrated category, and alsothe most expensive--$2,300 to $4,000.These riding mowers are similarto the ones landscapers use,with a rear engine andrear wheel steering.They offer cutting widthsfrom 42 to 60 inches.Most ZTRs you drive usinga set of levers thataccelerate, steer, and brake.That can be tricky if you're notaccustomed to the design, whichis why more manufacturersare offeringZTRs with steering wheels.ZTRs can turn circles in oneplace and are the fastest wayto cut your grass.Like tractors, they canside discharge, bag,or mulch your grass clippings.But on hills, ZTRscan lose tractionand are hard tosteer and control.And if you're not careful,the rear steering wheelscan tear up your grassduring turns, especiallyat higher speeds.There are alsorear-engine riders.In many cases, these areless expensive than ZTRsor tractors, about$1,000 to $1,600.Since the engine is inthe back like a ZTR,there's more trimming visibilitythan with a lawn tractor.Rear-engine mowers alsotend to take up less space,so storing them is easier.However, they havenarrower cutting widths,about 24 to 33 inches.And while they provide adecent cut, in general,Consumer Reports testsfind they don't go as fastor handle as wellas tractors or ZTRs.As for features, ride-onmowers have plenty.You'll see conveniences likehigh backed, comfortable seats,padded steering wheels,and cup holders.Here are some other key featuresour testers say to consider.Infinite drivespeeds is like havingan automatic transmissionfor your mower.An electric power takeoffengages the blade electrically,instead of requiringyou to do it manually.Reverse lets youmow going backward,helpful in tight areas.Look for fuel levels youcan see from the seatwhile you're riding.Plenty of ride-ons comewith hour meters thattrack the number of hours theengine has been operating,so you know when toservice your mower.A washout port makes iteasy to clean up the blade.You just connect a hose inthe port, turn on the hose,start up the machine,and engage the bladesand wash out clippings.This is easier than tryingto get under the tractor.Having a robot do allyour mowing sounds great,but you'll pay for that.Prices typically start at $1,400and go up to more than $2,000.That's the costof a lawn tractor.You'll need to set aperimeter wire to keepthe machine in your yard.The robot will randomlycrisscross within the wireand reverse direction when ithits the wire or an obstacle.You can programsome using an app.They can mow whenyou wouldn't want to,at night and in theheat, for instance.Consumer Reportstests in the pastfound cut quality wasn't asgood as conventional mowers,but we plan on checkingout some new robotic mowersthis summer to seehow they perform.No matter whichmower you choose,it's important totake good care of it.Here are some top tipsfrom Consumer Reports.Store your mowerin a covered space.Wash away grassclippings after each use.With powered mowers,have the bladesharpened at the start ofeach season, and about threeto four more times after that.Sharp blades save fuel andcut the grass more cleanly,making it healthier.Sharpen reel mowerblades every two years.Also, set the bedknife.This is the stationarypart of reel mowersthe blades pass overto cut the grass.The bedknife has to beclose enough to the bladesso that they graze itwithout hitting it,kind of like cuttingshears or scissors.You can buy kits to dothis, but Consumer Reportssuggest finding a pro.If your mower won't start,bad gas is likely the culprit.Empty the old fuel andmake sure to add a fuelstabilizer next time.Replace spark plugs every 100hours, or two to three years.Change the oil.For ride-ons, checkthe manual to seehow many hours themachine can operatebefore it needs an oil change.For walk-behinds, change itat the start of the season.Change the air filtersaccording to the owner manualinstructions.If the belts look worn, frayed,or cracked, get new ones.Check the tire pressure atthe start of the season.Finally, mow safely.Wear hearing protection,keep children and petsaway from running mowers, andbe careful mowing on hills.Most manufacturers include adiagram in the owner's manualyou can use to figure outwhether the slopes in your yardare too steep.And keep gasoline inan approved container,away from ignition sources.For all of our latest ratingsand reviews on lawnmowers,be sure to check outconsumerreports.org.\n"