Lawn mowers were invented in England during the 1830's. These early models were cylindrical reel mower types specifically made to cut the grass on sporting fields, both cricket and soccer being the main needs for a level and even grass surface. The rotating blade cylinder made a crisp clean cut of the grass, and by the early 1900's, these became motorized and therefore easier and faster to use.
The common powered rotary mower did not make an appearance until the late 1950's, when small engines were able to turn the blade fast enough to effectively cut the grass. These mowers were lighter and less complex, and quickly overtook cylinder mower sales.
Today, modern lawn mowers are either manually, gasoline, or electrically powered (corded or battery). For a detailed description of what power source is right for you, please see the lawn equipment power source buyer's guide.
Lawn Mower Types
Reel Mowers
Reel mowers, or cylinder mowers, have several blades mounted on a horizontal axis cylinder. These blades literally spin and sandwich the grass blades between a stationary cutting bar, slicing the grass in two, much like a pair of scissors, leaving an exceptionally well manicured lawn in its wake. They're inherently heavy but modern materials make manual push mowers light and easy to move. In fact, if you want a mower that is 100 percent eco-friendly, a manual reel push mower is your only choice.
Cylindrical cutting is the best and healthiest way to cut grass. The clean cut allows the grass to spring faster while the cut line is level and even throughout the entire mowed area. Most commercial grass cutting applications, like golf courses, football fields and baseball diamonds, among others, use a powered reel mower to obtain the most uniform grass-cut playing field possible. These are the most expensive lawn mower types available, but the superior cut provided by a reel mower can't be denied.
Rotary Mowers
With the advent of higher speed small engines in the late 1950's, rotary mowers began to replace reel mowers. The mowers simple construction is basically a small engine mounted on a metal deck which spins a metal blade beneath it. These mower types are generally inexpensive, lightweight, and easy to use effectively.
Rotary mowers work on the principle of chopping the grass off at a selected height by blade rotation contact. The blade must rotate fast enough to chop the grass off instead of just bending it over. This “chopping” motion actually shreds and damages the tip of the grass, causing it to yellow slightly as the shredded top portion dies. The best rotary mowers will have the highest blade revolutions per minute, or RPM's, and therefore give a better contact cut than slower moving blades. In general, the higher the horsepower of the motor, the better the cut will be.
Mulching Mowers
Mulching mowers cut the grass in such fine particles that there is no discharge port and no bagging. The grass literally biodegrades in your lawn and acts as an all natural fertilizer. You'll never have to worry about grass clippings, although most mulching mowers also give you the option to bag or discharge the clippings if you so desire.
All rotary mulching mowers use a special type of mulching blade that keeps the grass suspended in the air below the deck so that the blade can cut it several times before it drops to the ground. Many also employ a specially engineered deck to aid in grass suspension.
Features
Automatic Blade Stop
Virtually all powered lawn mowers have an automatic blade stop feature, usually a small rod beneath the handle. Before starting, you pull the rod up until it contacts the handle which allows the blades to rotate. If the rod is released, as in you let go of the handle for any reason, the blades will automatically stop rotating. This safety features has saved many a finger and toe from being sliced by turning blades.
Grass Discharge
Unless a lawn mower is strictly a mulching mower, it will have a grass discharge port located either on the side or at the rear of the unit. Side discharging is the most common and the least expensive rotary lawn mowers will have this feature. Rear discharge is a feature where a bag must be inserted at the rear of the mower to catch grass clippings.
Although in years past you could get a side discharge bagger, most modern lawn mowers only allow rear bagging options. Reel mowers always discharge from either the back or the front, and they're capable baggers as well as mulchers.
Height Adjustment
All mowers have a height adjusters, usually from 1/2-inch to 3 inches with the most common adjusters attached to each wheel with height grading slots. You simply move the adjuster to the correct height slot and then follow suit on each wheel for a level cut.
Better adjusters will allow you to set the height of the front wheels with one lever, and then set the height of the rear wheels with another. The best height adjusters allow you to set all 4 wheels at the same height with just one adjustment lever.
High Wheel Cutting
The best cutting rotary mowers employ larger rear wheels which make them easier to push and keeping the unit level on inclines and rough terrain. Generally, high wheel mowers cost more than mowers with the same sized wheels all around, but if your yard is comparably flat, you'll see little or no benefit when cutting with a high wheel design despite it being easier to push.
Self Propulsion
Virtually all powered mowers come in a self-propelled model, but they will be more expensive than a push-only version. However, you'll find the ease of cutting a lawn with a self-propelled machine proves it's worth the extra cost.
In its simplest form, the lawn mower engine also propels either the forward, rear, or the side wheels on a powered reel mower. All you do is guide the mower on the correct path while the mower does all of the work for you.
Front Wheel Drive
- This type is better for flatter ground and is easier to maneuver because when you turn, you literally lift up the front wheels and pivot on the rears.
Rear Wheel Drive
- Works better on hills because the weight of the lawn mower goes to the rear wheels as you go up an incline. This means there will always be positive contact and limited slippage with the powered wheels.
The disadvantage with rear wheel drive is you'll have to follow the mower and physically turn it as the rear wheels keep pushing the machine forward. Many rear drive mowers have a drive release mechanism so you can stop the forward motion of the rear wheel drive and then pivot the machine around in a circle.
Side Drive Wheels
- These wheels on self propelled reel mowers are the easiest to turn. You merely put pressure on the handle to one wheel and the mower will pivot effortlessly on that side.
What's Best for You
With so many different models and types available, you'll have to ask yourself the question, "What's best for me?"
Reel Mowers
These give you the best cut of them all, and they are the only mowers available in a manual push configuration. Powered reel mowers are heavy and expensive, but if you want the best manicured lawn, this is what you need. They'll need basic motor maintenance, but if you are familiar with gasoline powered small engines, that won't be a problem.
If you like your mowing chores to be part of an exercise routine, then a manual push reel mower is what you want. They are also 100 percent environmentally friendly and virtually maintenance free. However, you'll have to cut the grass regularly to keep it short. Manual push mowers become more difficult to use if the grass gets too high.
Rotary Mowers
These types must always be powered mowers so you'll always have to deal with a power source. Basic push types are generally lightweight and inexpensive, but if you want the best self-propelled machines, you'll pay for that convenience. They do require some maintenance, but anyone with basic do-it-yourself skills should have no problem.
Gasoline
For decades, gasoline powered lawn mowers have been the standard lawn mower for city dwellers and suburbanites alike. Modern gas mowers are easy to start, require little maintenance, and can go anywhere as long as they have gas in the tank. Small engine repair shops have made a business out of servicing gasoline lawn mower engines, while parts and accessories are readily available at your local hardware store.
Electric
Modern corded electric motors are the equal of gasoline motors, with the same power, cutting and mulching ability. They are virtually no-maintenance machines and start by the flip of a switch. The only issue is that you are always tethered to a cord.
Cord recommendations for all models are 100 feet or less, so if you can't cut your lawn in a 100 foot space, a corded electric isn't for you. For smaller lawns however, electric powered lawn mowers make very little noise, are environmentally friendly, and they won't wake the neighbors on a Sunday morning. They're also the least expensive lawn mowers available.
Battery Powered
The newest Lithium-Ion batteries equal the running time of gasoline mowers and are just as effective at cutting and mulching. No oily maintenance choorse, no power cords to worry about, very little noise is generated, and they can be taken anywhere. And if you want a longer run time, all you do is just get another battery. Although these are currently the most expensive lawn mowers available at present, their ease of use and environmental friendliness is second to none.