A healthy lawn can greatly improve a home's overall look and appeal, and good lawnmower makes lawn maintenance a simple and enjoyable task. Make sure you choose a mower that is comfortable to use and a good fit for the size of your lawn. Whether you want the classic look and feel of a manual reel mower or all of the features of a heavy-duty gas-powered mower, you'll be able to find a model that's an ideal match for your lawn care needs.

As you shop for your mower, consider:

• Size of your yard
• Type of terrain
• Who will use the mower
• Desired convenience & performance features

There are a wide range of mowers from which to choose. Some models have more available features, such as adjustable blade heights or push button starting. Others have front or rear wheel drive. Depending on your personal preferences and budget, finding a mower to meet your lawn care needs should not be a difficult task.

Self-Propelled

Self-propelled mowers move automatically with single or multi-speed with ranges of 1-3.5 MPH. You can also choose front or rear wheel drive depending on your yard terrain. Front wheel drives are best suited for flat terrain while rear wheel drives adapt well to any terrain, including hills and areas with tough grass types. If you elect to purchase a mower that bags clippings, a self-propelled model will make it easier to handle the additional weight, which may add an additional 20-30 pounds.

Electric Start

Eliminate tedious pull starts with a convenient electric starter. With the simple touch of one button, getting your mower to fire up becomes an easy task.

Variable Speed

A great benefit of variable speed is it allows you to go slow if you’re working in close to obstacles such as trees or planting beds, and go faster when you’re mowing out in the open. It also helps when you have different people who operate the mower and prefer different speeds.

Blade-Brake Clutch System 

A blade-break clutch system enables you to stop the blade from rotating without switching the engine off so you can safely move obstacles out of the way and resume mowing again immediately. If you have children who have a tendency to leave toys in the yard or you don't want to turn off the mower every time you need to move tree branches out of your mowing path, look for a model with this feature.

Engines: If you have a small, flat lawn, look for a mower with a standard engine, which features a flat head and side valve and will provide enough power to get the job done. Engines with overhead cams (OHC) are more powerful than standard engines and tend to run smoother and more quietly. For larger lawns with uneven or hilly terrain, you may want to find a model with an engine that features overhead valves (OHV). OHV engines are often the most powerful, easy to start and run more efficiently over the long haul.

When choosing the engine type you want, consider:

• If your lawn is larger, choose a more powerful engine and wider cutting swath
• If you want a mulching mower, choose a more powerul engine
• OHV engines tend to run cleaner, which reduces pollutant
  
  

Grass Disposal: There are a few options available for grass clipping disposal, depending on which type mower you choose. Some models with side discharges shoot grass out next to the mower as it cuts. Others automatically bag the grass clippings, which may require a trip or two to the compost pile, depending on the size of your lawn. The bags can either be behind the mower or on the side, depending on the make and model. If you'd rather not compost, consider a mulching mower, which chops the grass into fine pieces that don't clump; making instant fertilizer for your lawn and saving time in the process.

When choosing your mower's grass disposal methods, consider:

• Make sure bags are easy to remove, empty and replace
• Some mowers enable you to choose all three grass-disposal methods