Thursday, May 26, 2016

Create the Perfect Garden

 


Spring is finally here! It’s time to overhaul your yard so you can enjoy it all summer long. Here are some simple steps to design the perfect garden for your home.


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Make it beautiful


You don’t have to do all these steps in just one day. Depending on the size of your yard, you may need a weekend to get things into shape. Take your time to create exactly what you want.


Start with basic cleanup


Begin your yard makeover by doing basic cleanup. Pick up debris like fallen branches. If you have a mulching lawn mower, you can skip raking the lawn. Cut your grass to the best height for the type you have. For example, Kentucky bluegrass should be kept 2 inches tall in the summer. Best practice is to avoid cutting more than 1/3 of the total height of the grass once you’ve got it to the right length. Edge along sidewalks and your driveway.


Trim shrubs and trees


Inspect your trees and shrubs for disease and problems. Prune away dead branches and limbs. Put down mulch around them if needed.


Edge existing beds that you intend to keep


Remove all non-permanent edging materials like plastic fences, bricks, or stones. Use a metal edger, spade, or hand tools to cut along the edge of the bed to neaten up the boundary. Lay down new mulch. Plant new flowers if you desire. Put down new, or replace the old, edging materials.


Watch a 4-minute video on how to edge a bed.



Design new beds to break up open spaces


If you don’t need a large open lawn area, why not add in some visual stimulation? Take your garden hose and use it to draw an area on the lawn where you would enjoy a new flower bed. Use your edger or spade to create the boundaries of the new bed. Then use a shovel to remove sod and expose the soil. Put down edging materials like stones or bricks. Lay down mulch on the new bed, and then plant flowers, shrubs, or other greenery.


Feed the lawn


Springtime is a good time to apply fertilizer. See our in-depth article about the best fertilizers for your grass and plants.


Make it useful


As much as you might enjoy looking good for the neighbors, your home is primarily for your enjoyment and relaxation. Why not give it a few tweaks to make your yard better for you?


Screen off an area for privacy


Grow ivy on the fence. Plant clumping (not running) bamboo around the pool. Plant cypress or arborvitae around the deck. All of these plants grow quickly and are easy to maintain.


Make it a fun place to spend time


Make stepping stones into a chessboard. Build a fire pit. Hang a hammock. Most of all, put out comfortable furniture so you will want to spend time outdoors enjoying all your hard work.


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Keep pests away with natural solutions


To keep mosquitoes away, grow marigolds, horsemint, catnip, citronella, rosemary, and lavender. Some of these grow just as well in planters and pots as they do in flower beds.


Remember to keep it safe for pets and kids


Pets and kids have a tendency to eat things they shouldn’t. When you choose new plants, check to see if they are poisonous. The ASPCA has a handy list of safe and unsafe plants for animals. The University of California has a booklet describing plants that are safe for humans.


Achieve your dream garden on a budget


It’s all well and good to dream big, but sometimes reality isn’t so grand. You can still fix up your yard on a budget.


Revive that old lawn mower


A lawn mower is one of the biggest expenses a homeowner has. But over time, owning your own lawn mower can result in significant savings over paying someone to cut your lawn with their mower. If you need to squeeze another year of service out of your old lawn mower, check out these tips to revive it.


Inexpensive tools


If you can’t afford everything you want right now, focus on essential tools. If you can’t buy both a shovel and a spade, get a spade. If you don’t want to buy the full kit of hand tools, get a Japanese Hori Knife. Borrow or rent tools, or look for open box deals at the hardware store.


Other ways to save money on your garden


  • Save money on fertilizer by leaving mulch or clippings on the lawn.

  • Compost your food scraps to make fertilizer.

  • Seeds are cheaper than buying plants from a nursery.

  • Use rocks from a river to edge your flower beds.

If your water is expensive, put up a rain barrel to collect Nature’s bounty to water your garden. Set up an inexpensive drip irrigation system. Or forget watering for the most part by xeriscaping your yard.


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Digging deeper into the details of fine gardening


Maintaining a beautiful yard is a year-round task. Here are some tips for keeping up with the job.


Winter


The cold months are the best time to plan out your springtime tasks and get your equipment into shape. Clean your garden tools and sharpen spades, blades, shovels, trowels, knives, and shears. Tune-up your power tools like your lawn mower and weed trimmer.


Research new plants for your garden and buy seeds. Read up on gardening tips. Make sure existing plants are protected from harsh weather.


Spring


It’s time for yard cleanup, planting, and fertilizing. Get your grass and plants prepared for summer heat by putting down new mulch and testing your sprinkler system. If you’re on the lookout for a new lawn mower, catch the sales in April and May.


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Summer


Mow, mow, mow your lawn…each week if you can. Don’t cut more than a third of its height each time so that it doesn’t go brown. Forget fertilizing because it will only burn your grass right now. Keep on top of watering, and try to do it in the early morning hours.


Fall


Things are winding down. Make sure any dead branches are pruned so they don’t blow down and cause damage during winter storms. Clean equipment and drain your mower’s gas tank for winter storage.


Don’t let pests bug you


Yes, some bugs like earthworms, ladybugs, and bees are helpful for your garden. But other bugs are just pests. Don’t feel obliged to use toxic chemicals to kill unwanted garden guests. Try Neem Oil for an organic solution against powdery mildew, mites, aphids, and other little critters.


If your pests are the four-footed variety like deer or rabbits, there are other natural repellents you can use.


  • For rabbits: plant garlic plants or wormwood around other plants. Sprinkle garlic powder on adult plants to make them taste and smell terrible to rabbits.

  • For deer: You can hang reflective, shiny strips of foil or Mylar to deter deer. But if tacky isn’t your style, try making a homemade version of deer repellent from rotten eggs and beef bouillon.

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The most beautiful plants for your garden


If you’re looking for something new to plant, we can recommend some of these gorgeous perennials for your garden.


  • Coneflower (Echinacea)—imagine 2-foot tall colorful flowers with 4-inch blooms

  • Aster X Frikartii—another 2-foot tall beauty with 2-inch flowers

  • Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica)—line your sidewalk with these baby blues

  • Lavender—it’s purple and it smells good, need we say more?

  • Daisies—the favorite cottage garden flower

A few other handy gardening tips


Expand your gardening skills with these tips to save you time, work, and money.


Sow seeds in a row or a pattern you’ll recognize. That makes it easier to know which are weeds and which are your plants sprouting up from the soil.


Plant bulbs in odd-numbered clumps. They have a more stunning impact when grouped in fives or sevens instead of planted in rows.


Consider your color scheme ahead of time. Sketch yourself a picture of how it will look.


Keep seeds stored in the refrigerator. Seriously, we’re not joking. They will keep better as long as their environment is cool and dry.


Don’t leave blank spaces unless you’re planning a Japanese rock garden. Empty soil is an invitation to weeds.


Play with your design before planting. If you have plants from the nursery, place their pots in position to see how they look before you put them in the soil.


It’s easier to weed when the ground is soaking wet. Getting muddy will save you some effort.


Prune evergreens after they sprout their new branches. That will save you from having to do it more than once each year.


Save time and effort by leaving plants in pots. Put the pot into the ground with the plant already in it.


Get more free tips on the best equipment for maintaining your garden


Discover which lawn mower is the best one for you. Choose the best weed whacker for your budget. See more free tips on how to keep your yard in top shape.


 


 



Create the Perfect Garden

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Best 5 Lawn Mower Brands 2016

When it’s time to buy your first lawn mower, or upgrade your old one, it’s helpful to know which are the best brands on the market. You want the highest quality for the money.


We looked at the top selling name brands and models, and combined this information with ratings from both Consumer Reports and online user reviews. We focused on major brands and avoided the ones with the most complaints. We want you to have the best, not the worst.


The results are in! Here are the best 5 lawn mower brands of 2016.


Top 5 Lawn Mower Brands List


Greenworks


Honda


EGO


Husqvarna


American Lawn Mower Company


 


GreenWorks


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GreenWorks is owned by an international company called Sunrise Global Marketing, formerly called the Globe Group, out of China. The GreenWorks world headquarters are in North Carolina now, although they have ties to Shanghai. Sometimes people see the phrase “made in China” and they move on to the next brand. Just remember that high-quality Apple products are also made in China.


A quick search of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) records shows that this company has a rating of B+. There were ten complaints in the past 3 years, and six of them were problems with the product or service. All ten complaints were resolved by the company and closed. This shows that Sunrise Global Marketing (aka GreenWorks) is actively seeking to satisfy their customers. It also shows that there have been few serious complaints compared to the volume of sales.


Consumer Reports did a survey of GreenWorks owners in 2016. They asked the owners if they had a problem with their mower breaking down before the 4th year when the warranty ended. Fifteen percent responded that yes, they had. Since 15% is a low percentage of the total number of lawn mowers sold, Consumer Reports declared GreenWorks mowers brand as one of the most reliable on the market.


Let’s look at a top-selling, high-quality lawn mower from this top-rated brand.


GreenWorks 25302 Twin Force G-MAX 40V Li-Ion 20-Inch Cordless Lawn Mower with 2 Batteries and a Charger


The first top lawn mower brand we’ll discuss is GreenWorks. Their models are top sellers on Amazon and they ‘ve racked up hundreds of 5-star reviews. Consumer Reports said that the GreenWorks push mowers are among the most durable on the market. Only 15% of owners reported that their GreenWorks mower had broken down by the 4th year of use.


The 25302 is a perfect example of the best qualities in a GreenWorks mower. It’s packed with features and is convenient and simple to use. It’s a 3-in-1, so it mulches, bags, and discharges. The accessories swap out without the need to use any tools. It has twin 10-inch blades which give it a total cutting width of 20-inches. The grass gets a nice clean cut, and the mower is powerful enough to mulch leaves, too. If you’re cutting thick grass and you notice that the mower isn’t working as well, slowing down your walking speed generally helps. It’s impressive that a battery-powered mower works this well.


But just because the 25302 is battery-powered doesn’t mean it won’t run long enough to finish the yard. The 40-volt 4Ah battery gives it up to 60 minutes of runtime. If you hit a tough spot, the engine senses it and works harder. If it’s smooth going, the engine throttles back to save power. The 25302 has slots for two batteries, so it can switch to the second one if the first battery runs out of power. All the batteries for the mower are also compatible with other GreenWorks power tools, like their weed trimmer.


While you’re cutting the grass, this mower sounds about like a fan running. But there is more to love than its quiet engine. It has a single lever to adjust the cutting height, mounted right on top of the deck. There are 5 positions to choose from, from 1-1/4” to 3-1/8” high. We love that one lever adjusts the whole deck.


Speaking of the deck, it’s plastic. You’ll never have to worry about it rusting. The high-impact polycarbonate is tough, but light. As a result, the mower weighs only 42.5 pounds.  The handlebar also folds down for storage, so it’s light enough and small enough to put in the trunk of a car.


GreenWorks offers a 4-year limited warranty. If you should need some troubleshooting tips, see our article on how to solve common problems with this kinds of mower.


Watch the GreenWorks 25302 mower in action in this video. Or view our in-depth review on this model.



 


Starting the GreenWorks mower


You may never have started a mower like this before. It’s so easy!


To start the mower


  • insert the key211

  • pull the bail handle

  • push the button

That’s the advantage of electric start—there’s no cord to pull.


When you’re done mowing, release the bail handle to halt the mower.


Safety tip for mowing on slopes and hills


GreenWorks (and other manufacturers) advise mowing across the face of a slope, not up and down it. This applies especially in the case where it rises more than 2.5 feet for every ten feet of ground.


For the healthiest grass, mow like this


Have you ever seen a lawn with brown tips on the top of the grass? Don’t burn your lawn like that. Leave it taller in the summer and shorter in the winter.


Only cut off the top third of the total length of the grass blades. This means your lawn will around 1-1/2” to 2” tall in cooler months, and 2” to 3-1/4” tall in the summer months.


Tips to care for the lithium-ion battery in the GreenWorks 25302


The GreenWorks G-MAX battery from your mower also fits more than 25 tools. Here’s how to keep it in top shape.


Once the battery is fully recharged, take it off the charger. If you can keep it stored where the temperature stays below 80 degrees and it’s dry, it will have a longer lifetime.


When you store it for the winter, leave it between 30-50% charged. That sounds strange, but it’s based on science. Lithium-Ion batteries do better when stored with only a partial charge. You may have noticed that when you buy a new electronic product with this kind of battery, it comes only partially charged.


GreenWorks also suggests that when the battery has been in storage for about two months, give it another charge.


GreenWorks 25302 Twin Force G-MAX 40V Li-Ion 20-Inch Cordless Lawn Mower with 2 Batteries and a Charger


Honda


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Since 1953, Honda has been making automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment like generators and lawn mowers. In America, they are registered as Honda Power Equipment, and based in Alpharetta, Georgia.


The BBB gives them a “B” rating. In the past three years, they had 12 complaints. Eight complaints were problems with a product or service, and some of those involved lawn mowers. All complaints have been addressed by the company and closed.


Consumer Reports rated one of Honda’s gas-powered lawn mowers as a best buy. Let’s look at that model to see why.


Honda HRR216K9VKA 3-in-1 Variable Speed Self-Propelled Gas Mower with Auto Choke


Honda may be better known for its cars, but their attention to making quality engines carries over into their lawn mowers, too. Consumer Reports recommended the Honda HRR2169VKA as the best buy among all the gas-powered self-propelled multi-speed lawn mowers they reviewed for 2016.


The Honda GCV160 engine is CARB-compliant, and has an auto-choke feature for easy start. Even though you have to yank the cord, you should only have to pull it once.


The HRR2169VKA is a 3-in-1 model, which means it discharges clippings, mulches, and bags. Choose the function with the clip director lever, and mount the accessory that you need.


If you need to adjust the cutting height, there are 6 cutting heights between 1-1/8” and 4.” That’s a perfect range to cut any kind of common lawn grass. The only downside is that there are 4 levers you’ll need to set, one at each wheel.


There are two blades for a finer cut, especially when the mower is mulching. The cutting width is a nice wide 21-inches so you cover the lawn quickly.


When you’re ready to start mowing, make sure you’re not holding the Smart Drive Control lever so the mower won’t move when you start it. Pull the blade control lever back (it’s also called a “bail handle”). Pull the cord gently till you feel some resistance, then give it a yank so the engine roars to life. Now you’re ready to mow.


If you release the bail handle, or blade control lever, the engine will stop the blade. This is a safety feature. If you release the Smart Drive Control Lever, the engine will stop moving the mower forward. If you’re not an old hand at lawn mowing, or even if you are, pause for a moment for this brief safety article. It will take you 2 minutes to read. All the safety features in the world won’t help if you aren’t sure how to operate a mower safely.


The HRR2169VKA has rear-wheel drive, which is ideal for mowing on uneven terrain. Use the Smart Drive Control Lever to choose a speed ranging from zero up to 4mph, which is a brisk walk.


Some of the other convenient features on this mower include the spacious 2.4-bushel grass catcher bag, foam grips on the handlebar, and the fact that the handlebar adjusts to two heights and folds up for storage. The HRR2169VKA also has a fuel shutoff valve. It comes with a 3-year limited warranty.


See the Honda come out of the box and get to work in this video.



 


Honda recommends using 86 octane fuel (or higher) in the HRR2169VKA. Please refuel after each use so there is less air inside the gas tank and less problem with oxidation. When storing the mower like for the winter, please drain the tank or use a fuel stabilizer.


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Recommended maintenance schedule for the Honda HRR2169VKA (according to the user manual):


  • Before each use, inspect the mower, check the air filter and the oil level

  • After the first month, or 5 hours of use, change the engine oil

  • Every year, or after 25 hours of use, clean the air filter

  • After 50 hours of use, clean the air filter again and change the engine oil

  • Also after 50 hours, adjust the Smart Drive Control cable if needed

  • After 100 hours of use, change the oil, and clean the air filter

  • Also after 100 hours, inspect the spark plug and arrester, adjust cables if needed; grease pinion gears and check the flywheel brake pad

  • After 150 hours of use, replace the spark plug, air filter, and change the oil; adjust the valve clearance and idle speed, clean the fuel tank and filter

  • You may need to replace the fuel line after two years of use

Although you have to spend time and money to maintain your Honda (or any gas-powered lawn mower), it’s worth it to keep it running well longer. Plus, if you have a larger yard over ¼-acre, you probably need a gas-powered model.


If you’re not a fan of doing tune-ups on your power tools, check out our two top picks in the cordless electric category. They only need cleaning and recharging.


Better yet, check out our last offering, a push reel mower. Zero maintenance for years to come.


The low-maintenance EGO Power+ battery-powered mower is up next.


 


Honda HRR216K9VKA 3-in-1 Variable Speed Self-Propelled Gas Mower with Auto Choke


EGO


EGO is based in Geneva, Illinois, but it is a child company of global power tool manufacturer Chervon, from Nanjing, China. (No, that’s not a typo. It’s “Chervon.”) They have been developing innovative electric power tools for two decades.


Roy Berendsohn at Popular Mechanics reviewed one of EGO’s most popular lawn mowers and declared it a “well-engineered machine.” Let’s see why.


EGO Power+ 20-Inch 56-Volt Lithium-ion Cordless Lawn Mower – 4.0Ah Battery and Charger Kit


Why would you want a battery-powered mower? There are a lot of reasons. One, the EGO Power+ is one of the best cordless electric mowers for the money. Consumer Reports said so in their 2016 review.


Two, this mower is very quiet and doesn’t need maintenance like a gas-powered mower does. Just keep it clean, keep the batteries charged, that’s it. And electricity is currently cheaper than gas in most parts of the USA.


So besides saving money, why else would you want a cordless mower? After all, aren’t they limited on how big of a yard they can mow? Well, yes, they are limited, but this EGO mower goes up to two miles on one charge, or 45 minutes of runtime. (If you need more runtime, check out the GreenWorks mower described above.)


It’s a 3-in-1 mower, so it mulches, bags, or discharges out the side. (Are you seeing the theme here? We love 3-in-1s.) The motor has 600 watts of power running off 56-volt batteries. That’s impressive. It means you’ll get a clean cut in tougher grass, and you can mulch leaves, too.


We also love the single lever, spring-assisted, cutting height adjustment. Check it out in the photo—it’s mounted in a convenient place right on top of the deck. It looks like a gear-shift.


The 4.0Ah battery recharges in just 30 minutes. You could mow half the yard, have lunch while it’s charging, and then finish the job. Even better, this mower has LED headlights so you could mow very early or very late. It makes so little noise it won’t matter when you cut the grass. When you’re all done mowing, the handle folds down for storage.


The EGO Power+ mower has a 5-year limited warranty. The battery and charger have a 3-year warranty. This is a good deal since lithium-ion batteries typically last 3 to 5 years, but few manufacturers guarantee them for more than 1 year.


See a video review of the EGO Power+ LM2001.



 


EGO Power+ 20-Inch 56-Volt Lithium-ion Cordless Lawn Mower - 4.0Ah Battery and Charger Kit


 


Husqvarna


How to tip your Husqvarna 7021P lawn mower to empty out the oil:
How to tip your Husqvarna 7021P lawn mower to empty out the oil:

The Husqvarna Group is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. They started manufacturing lawn mowers in 1919. Their first powered lawn mower roared to life in 1947. Poulan Pro is another brand of power tools and lawn mowers owned by Husqvarna.


The USA headquarters of Husqvarna Professional Products, Inc., are based in Charlotte, NC. The Better Business Bureau accredited them in 2007 and gives them an A+ rating. Even though they have had 162 complaints over the past 3 years, they also made a good faith effort to resolve each problem.


The Husqvarna website has a lot of detail about each lawn mower, along with FAQs and user manuals that are easy to access. They also post helpful videos about their products on Youtube.


We choose one of Husqvarna’s top sellers on Amazon to review here.


Husqvarna 7021P 21-Inch 160cc Honda GCV160 Gas Powered 3-N-1 Push Lawn Mower with High Rear Wheels (CARB Compliant)


There’s no wonder this is a popular push mower from Husqvarna because it has the same reliable engine found in the Honda HRR2169VKA described above. The engine is the CARB-compliant GCV160. It’s an efficient engine made to last. The CARB compliance means it can be sold and used in the state of California. If you want to see how to maintain the engine for long life, take a look at the recommended maintenance schedule above.


The 7021P is also a top seller because it’s reliable. Consumer Reports found that just 16% of Husqvarna’s push mowers broke down before their fourth year of ownership. That’s less than other top brands like Toro and Cub Cadet.


Besides the Honda engine, this Husqvarna 7021P has other easy-to-use features in common with the Honda HRR2169VKA. It’s also a 21-inch wide, 3-in-1 mower, with the ability to mulch, bag, and discharge to the side. Unlike the Honda, it has larger rear wheels. That’s really helpful because this is a push mower, not a self-propelled model. Larger ball-bearing wheels make it easier to maneuver when you push it over bumpy ground or have tall grass to cut.


Another nice feature is the the foldable and adjustable handlebar with a foam grip. Unfortunately, this is another mower that requires you to set all four wheels individually when you choose a different height. But it offers 9 cutting heights ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 inches. It comes with a 2-year parts and labor warranty.


Read our in-depth review on this Husqvarna lawn mower.


How to tip your Husqvarna 7021P lawn mower to empty out the oil:


Husqvarna 7021P 21-Inch 160cc Honda GCV160 Gas Powered 3-N-1 Push Lawn Mower with High Rear Wheels (CARB Compliant)


American Lawn Mower Company


The American Lawn Mower Company also does business as, or is the owner of, Earthwise, Great States, and Scotts. The majority of push reel mowers on the American market are manufactured by them.


Their “About Us” page says have been in business for over 100 years. They began making push reel mowers in Indiana in the 1890s. The first mowers cost between $2.20 to $4.75. Convert that to today’s dollars and it becomes $61 to $133. In other words, they still sell their products at about the same relative price!


The BBB gives the American Lawn Mower Company an A+ rating, although they are not accredited. They have had just 4 complaints over the past three years, and all are closed.


Let’s look at one of their top sellers on Amazon. It’s a very simple little push mower that fits their goal of being the “first choice in eco-friendly lawn care.”


American Lawn Mower 1204-14 Hand Reel 14 Inch Push Lawn Mower


No, it’s not a toy, but this little push reel mower is tiny. It weighs just 19 pounds. The cutting bar is just 14 inches across. This is the ideal lawn mower for a postage-stamp size yard in front of a townhouse. The best part is that you’ll probably never have to sharpen the blades or do any maintenance besides oiling it every now and then. There is no cost to refuel it, tune it up, or recharge it.


As you push the mower, the gears turn the steel blade cylinder faster than you are walking. Each pass of the wheel pushes grass against the cutting bar, snipping it like scissors. This kind of cut is gentler for your grass than the rotary tearing motion of a powered lawn mower. It’s also obvious that this kind of mower doesn’t pollute with either noise or fumes.


American Lawn Mower only offers a 90-day warranty, but don’t let that worry you too much. They inspect each lawn mower and it has to pass a cutting test. They say that each one must cut a piece of paper that is just 1/3000th of an inch thick, much thinner than a single blade of grass. Should this delicate alignment between the bed knife and blade reel get out of balance, you can adjust it with tools at home.


The wheels are 8-1/2” high, and the cutting height adjusts between ½” to 1-1/2” inches. This numbers mean two things. One, if you’ve let the grass grow for a while, you might need to borrow a power mower to do the first cut. Two, if you have certain kinds of cold weather grass, this might cut it too short. Check with your local lawn and garden center if you’re not sure.


Overall, this model 1204-14 is an example of the great bang for the buck that the American Lawn Mower company provides with their products. They sell simple, durable lawn mowers that balance features with price. If you’re on a budget, it’s worth looking at what they have to offer. Hundreds of positive customer reviews on Amazon show that there are lots of satisfied customers.


American Lawn Mower 1204-14 Hand Reel 14 Inch Push Lawn Mower


Final Comparison of the Top 5 Brands


Here is a chart with a quick comparison of 5 brands we chose. We show the Better Business Bureau rating, how many lawn mower models of that brand are getting 4-star reviews or better on Amazon, and whether Consumer Reports recommends that brand or particular model.


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Don’t see the right mower for you? No problem!


Take a peek at our other reviews on top lawn mowers. There is something for every budget.


Have a really big lawn?


If you have ½-acre or more, you might want a riding mower or tractor. Actually, you might want a riding mower even if your yard is small! Satisfy your curiosity and see which one would be best for you.



Best 5 Lawn Mower Brands 2016