Cutting the cost of lawn mowers

Published: June 9, 2008

Cutting the grass is big business. Homeowners buy some 6,000,000 lawn mowers a year. Consumer Reports just tested mowers costing less than $200, all the way up to $800.

Manufacturers tout torque and engine size, as well as horsepower. But Consumer Reports says don’t get caught up in a numbers game. None of those numbers really matter when it comes to lawn mower performance.

Much more important is how evenly the mower cuts the grass and how easily it handles. And, if you like to mulch your clippings or discharge them out to the side, how evenly the clippings are distributed.

Consumer Reports tested two types of gas mowers—push and self-propelled.

If you’ve got slopes, a self-propelled mower will get your job done faster. And make sure you get one with rear-wheel drive—especially if you’re bagging. Rear-wheel drive helps because as the bag fills up, the front wheels lift off the ground and the traction is on the rear wheels so it continues to drive the wheels.”

Although rear-wheel-drive mowers can cost as much as $800, Consumer Reports found a Best Buy for far less. It’s the Toro Recycler #20066 for $350.

But if you have a small, flat lawn, a push mower is fine. Consumer Reports named the Cub Cadet #11A-18MC a Best Buy for $230. And, for $60 more, you can upgrade to a self-propelled Cub Cadet mower that comes with a handy electric start.

Consumer Reports says it might be a routine task, but you have to be careful mowing your lawn. Some 77,000 people a year are so badly injured they have to go to the emergency room.

You can see how Consumer Reports tests lawn mowers at: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-garden/lawn-garden/outdoor-maintenance/lawn-mowers-and-tractors/reports/push-ratings/overview-mowers/lawn-mowers-overview.htm.

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