Top 5 Lawnmower Choices for 2009

Spring is fast approaching, and so is the time to drag the lawnmowers out of the garage and the fun task of mowing the lawn. Before you drag out that rusty old thing, though, consider buying yourself a new one. Here's a list of what you, as a consumer, might want to think about while shopping for lawnmowers:

· Pay attention to the height of the mower: Different mower decks offer different lengths of cuts. Short grass may be good for some places, but longer grass is better for those lawns in hot and humid places.

· Think about the needs it has to fulfill: If you have a lot of trees, garden beds, or other obstacles in your yard, you're going to need something that will be not only easy to maneuver around these, but whose deck and make will be suited for that type of thing. On the contrary, if you have an open yard, you might want to find something optimized for that with a wider deck that will cut down on the time it takes to mow the yard.

· Consider your physical state: Some people just may not be capable of pushing (or following) a mower around the yard, and some people just plain might not want to. If you're in that group, I would recommend considering getting a riding mower. If however, you're hoping to maybe get that extra little exercise while doing the chores, then a walk-behind would be the way to go.

· Decide how the mower will be used: If you want it to just cut your lawn, then a regular mower will be fine. If you want, however, a well-groomed lawn, then maybe you want to think about getting a mower with a bag on it for collecting the grass and making sure the yard looks clean after a cut. If that's the case, keep in mind that having a bag in the back is better than having a bag on the side because bags on the side get heavy when they get full and they tend to make the mower tip towards one side.

And, without further ado, my list of the top 5 lawnmowers:

1. Cub Cadet 11A-18MC: I've heard good things about this mower, so it wasn't any surprise to me when I found that Consumer Search had also rated it number 1. At a price of around $230, this mower is perfect for just about any user. It's a rear-bagging machine that many users claim is easy to use, which is always good for those who aren't looking to get fancy with their machines, but just want to get the job done. It's a gas mower, but one of the more quiet types, with an easily adjustable deck (just one lever, which is more convenient). As for the cons: this is only a 19" deck, which means that it's best for smaller lawns and areas. Also, some people have reported difficulty starting and then restarting it as well as it not being as durable as they would have hoped.

2. Lawn-boy Insight 10683: Even though this mower didn't quite reach the 2008 CARB standards, this machine not only offers a larger width than most of the other highly rated ones (21" as opposed to the typical 19"), but it is also more widely suggested for yards with many obstacles. Owners of this make and model commend it mostly for its ability to be easily handled to skirt the edges of trees and such. The mower runs about $370 according to Consumer Search. The only down side is that Lawn-boy mowers have been known to be somewhat prone to breaking down. However, Toro factories have now taken over the manufacturing of Lawn-Boy mowers, so the reliability might go up, considering how popular and trustworthy a name Toro was. My grandfather ran his lawn care business partly on Toros.

3. Bolens M762F: While being, at around $900, easily over our $500 budget (almost twice as much, in fact), I still feel that this machine is worthy of mentioning on this list because it falls into a category mentioned above. If you're looking for increased comfort while mowing the lawn, or are simply unable to physically deal with pushing a walk-behind, a riding mower is one of the best options. Most people recommend it for flat, small yards, but it'll do for larger jobs as well. Indeed, our tractor for the past ten years or so has been an outdated version of this and it served us well on our 4 acres. A major plus is that the ride on one of these tractors is much smoother than on a zero-turn, however, the seats are largely uncomfortable and it's not something you want to sit on for too awful long. This also offers a better sized cut, with a deck of 38".

4. John Deere EZ Trak Power Flow Assembly: The old adage "nothing runs like a Deere" couldn't be more accurately portrayed in this easy-to-use zero-turn. Priced at a fair $500, this machine not only bears one of the most trustworthy names in tractors, but also an impressive 48" deck for those lawns that need something a little bit more. Equipped to handle a chute and bag of its own, this zero turn is perfect for people that want to mow their lawns and clean up the clippings at the same time, especially good for dealing with fall leaves. The only down side is that the bag has to be bought separately. One more thing to keep in mind is that zero-turns are great for quick turning used in yards with many obstacles, but they provide a very bumpy and uneven ride that a lot of people don't find comfortable in any way. My grandparents, when they got rid of their lawnmowing business, opted to buy a riding mower for their 5 acre yard and they couldn't be happier with it (neither could all of us grandkids because we get to take it for a spin!). However, that's a personal choice because they don't mind the bumpiness.

5. Black and Decker CMM1200: Though I don't particularly find the use in this model (as I've only known large yards), I figure it's worth mentioning because there are many places that just need to mow a small area. If you're in that group and are thinking about being more environmentally friendly, this is your model. At a mere $400, this Black and Decker is a cordless mower, meaning it not only saves gas, but doesn't have all the hassles of a cord either. It's easy to start and a lot quieter than the gas mowers. The only down side is that it can only mow about a third of an acre with each charge and you have to remember to charge it before using it.

Credits:

"Lawn Mowers: Reviews", Consumer Search