Picking the Best Mower For YOU

If you were asked what was the most important piece of lawn machinery for caring and tending to your yard, you would more than likely answer your mower. And with that answer, you are probably correct. A mower does the critical job of cutting the grass to a desired height and keeping it from overgrowing. However much fancy stuff you do with edge trimmers, flower beds, and fertilizer, all of that is worthless if you have an overgrown yard. So when you walk into the hardware store or Google "lawn mower for sale" and are overwhelmed by the options, how do you decide which of the many lawnmowers to pick? Well, refer to this guide, of course!

To begin, there are three types of lawnmowers available everywhere. These three mowers are gas-powered, battery-powered, or electric-powered via a cord. Below, we'll dive into the pros and cons of each of these types of mowers and who they are best suited for. 

First, the gas mower. For a very long time, this was the only mower available to the general public because it was easiest to use and manufacture. Lately, however, it is becoming more and more obsolete as its usefulness is fading to the widely used battery and electric-powered mowers. Often, the only people who use these types of mowers are landscaping companies (A Yard Beyond ONLY has gas mowers on hand!) However, even if you aren't a landscaper, these types of mowers can come in handy in very specific purposes.

1. You have a large yard. A major con of battery mowers is that they can only run for a specific period of time before the batteries have to be taken out, charged (for a long time) and only then can you put them back in the mower and keep cutting. With a gas mower, all you have to do when the gas runs out is fill it back up and keep going. There is no waiting time for a gas mower like there is for a battery-powered mower, which is a major plus. If your yard is large enough that you're not sure a single charge on a battery will be able to do the whole job, then consider a gas mower.

2. You let your grass run wild before cutting it. All mowers have to run harder and faster to get through tall, thick grass. For the same reason as if you have a large yard, if you only cut your grass back once it's overgrown then the battery in a battery mower will deplete significantly quicker than if your grass was at medium height. If this is you, than definitely consider a gas mower especially as running a cord for an electric mower through long grass will be a hassle.

Second, the battery-powered mower. This type of mower is relatively new and has been around for 15-20 years. Mowers like this are growing rapidly in popularity among individuals with small yards because they are quiet, easy to use, and easy to start. You use these types of mowers by charging a battery (or two batteries) and then putting them in the designated spot in the mower. This acts as if a cord was plugged in to your mower for the life of the battery and allows you to cut effectively. These mowers are not as powerful as gas mowers and only last as long as the battery lasts, so refer to the gas mower and electric-powered mower sections for information on what to purchase if you have a large or overgrown yard.

1. If you have a small yard that you keep cut short. If this is you, this is almost certainly the mower for you. You get all of the pros of a battery-powered mower (quiet, easy to start, light, etc.) and none of the cons (short battery life, weaker, etc.) As long as the battery can last long enough to consistently mow your entire yard, purchase this type of mower. Make sure you can return it if it doesn't run long enough to mow your whole lawn or if something else is wrong with it. 

Third, the electric-powered mower. This mower is also relatively new compared to gas mowers. It has many of the pros that a gas mower has and many of the pros that a battery mower has, but it has a significant drawback: its cord. In order for the electricity to run to the mower, it requires a cord attached to it at all times--even when you're mowing. Trying not to run over and shred the cord or get the mower or you tangled up in it is a major hassle, and as such this mower should only be bought in very specific circumstances. 

1. If you like the capabilities of a gas mower--how long it can run, mostly--but hate trying to start it. Only in this very specific instance should you purchase an electric-powered mower. They are more and more obsolete as battery-powered mowers continue to run longer and gas-powered mowers get more efficient and easier to start.

Ultimately, the best type of mower is the battery-powered one. However, this doesn't work in all instances--especially if you have a large yard or one that has extremely long grass. Until companies work out how to make batteries last significantly longer, many people will still require a gas mower to satisfy their needs. And in some specific cases, purchasing an electric-powered mower may even be a necessary step. Whatever your needs may be, we hope this article helped clear up some of the confusion around the different types of mowers. Now that you know which type you need, go out there and buy it so you can begin cutting!

Published July 31st, 2023.

Storch, Hedwig. "Electric Lawn Mower." Wikimedia Commons, 9 Jul. 2008, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Electric_lawn_mower_IMG_5496.JPG. Accessed 31 Jul. 2023.