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| Photo Credit: Troy-Bilt |
| Choose a mower that’s comfortable to use and best meets your lawn care needs. |
As nearly any homeowner can tell you, cutting the grass can consume hours of precious leisure time every fair-weather weekend. So make the most of that time by choosing the best mower for you. There’s a huge selection out there, with price tags ranging from $100 to $4,000 and a lot of features to consider. So let me break it down for you:
Riding mowers/lawn tractors. These big mowers are best for flat, large lawns that are typically at least an acre or larger. The more versatile mowers in this group are the lawn tractors. These kings of the lawn can certainly help you handle a large landscape with minimal physical effort, but they do need regular, skilled maintenance to protect your investment. (You also need a space to store them.) Of course, another benefit is that you can purchase a variety of accessories for many of the lawn tractors out there. Attachments like a towing cart, dethatcher, snow thrower and snow blade can really come in handy around the yard and driveway. Riding mowers can usually range from $750-$4,000. | Add Photo to Journal |  | | Photo Credit: Troy-Bilt | | Self-propelled mowers can be a good choice for large lawns with slight slopes. |
Gas-powered, self-propelled mowers. The next most powerful group is the gas-powered, self-propelled mowers. These make a good choice for large lawns that might also have some slight slopes. (If slopes are too steep, the wheels may grind into wet or soft soil and tear up some turfs.) The self-propulsion makes these mowers easier to push upward and helpful in mowing for longer periods of time. Look for electric starters to eliminate the hassle of rip cords. These lawn masters typically cost somewhere between $500-$900.
Gas-powered push mowers. If you’ve got a pretty much flat, small- to medium-sized yard, this kind of mower will probably serve you fine. It’s less expensive than the more powerful types and is good for those who expect to get a little exercise when mowing their lawns. Sometimes electric starters are available, but you’ll find those less often than with the pricier self-propelled models. Expect to spend between $200-$600 for one of these push models.
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