Even though the lawn mower was invented way, way back in 1830, you would know that it was a lawn mower if seen.
The twisted blades that you see in lawn mowers today are the same twisted blades that were in lawn mowers of old. This rotating reel lawn mower was a blessing for gardeners because of the huge estate grounds and mansion lawns. Without the push lawn mower, they had to cut grass using scythes.
Nowadays, lawn mowers are usually gas powered and use the rotary configuration. It is, after all, proven to be very successful in cutting grass to within an inch of the roots. Of course, not all push lawn mowers are the same in quality. Choosing the right lawn mower will require just this small bit of research.
The first step in researching suitable, quality made walk behind lawn mowers is to gather as many brochures as you can of each brand of lawn mower that you come across. They usually have warranties, guarantees and periodic parts replacement schedules for maintenance. Some gas-powered lawn mowers need to have their engines tuned regularly by replacing the oil while some engines only need this maintenance performed once or twice or a year.
To get a good indication of what a good lawn mower looks like, take a look at your friendly neighborhood lawn mower man's equipment. They know what they're using and what they have to do to maintain it. Professionals usually prefer lawn mowers that expel grass cuttings out of the front. The expelled grass cuttings act as a mulching agent for the garden soil. The thing is this kind of lawn mower is also more expensive. But if you want a smooth lawn comparable to the greens in PGA golf courses, investing in this type of walk behind lawn mower will be well worth it. This lawn mower is perfectly suited to cutting Bermuda grass and St. Agustine grass.
A step above the walk behind lawn mower is the power rotary mower that was invented in 1939. While the walk behind requires some effort to push it forward, the power rotary is a self-propelled lawn mower that will make your job easier; with an added bit of expense.
The power rotary mower can cost a hundred dollars more than the walk behind mower. There's also the maintenance cost for the self propelling engine. Which is better? Well, if you use the power rotary, you lose an opportunity to exercise and also lose more money than you normally would with a walk behind lawn mower. However, if you have a physical handicap, the power rotary will work well for you especially if you want to maintain your own lawn.
Often, you will see lawn mowers with bags attached to them to capture grass cuttings. Before you think of buying one, consider what grass cuttings can do for your lawn. If you leave the cuttings on your lawn, they will eventually decompose and add nutrients to your garden soil. This process is called mulching. It may not be neat, but the mulch tends to disappear after a few days.
If you really want the bag to catch the cuttings, you have to decide whether you want to use side or rear bag configurations. Generally speaking, a side bag lawn mower is lighter than a lawn mower with a rear bag installed. If you have a small lawn, the side bag mower might now work since it could bump into just about anything.
Another issue to consider when buying lawn mowers with bags is bag holder replacements. These things that hold the bags are usually made of plastic. If the plastic becomes brittle enough, it can easily break while removing or putting a bag in place. Usually, replacement parts like these become obsolete over the course of a year. Should it come to pass that there are no parts to replace your bag holder, you're left with a lawn mower without a bag anyway.
The most important part of the walk behind lawn mower is the blades. Steel is strong and will cost less but will rust very quickly. Aluminum won't rust immediately, and if it does, it will do so slowly.
Ideally, a lawn mower should last 10 years. If you purchase a really good push lawn mower, you eventually get to save up hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
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