Reel lawn mowers: what to look for

Yeah, you haven't used a reel lawn mower since grandpa threatened to take you out behind the wood pile and give you a whuppin' if you didn't make with the chores, right? Well, guess what? Reel mowers are making a comeback due to high gas prices and that vacant seat on the green movement band wagon.

Today's push reel mowers have kept up with the times. The blades are better quality steel, the units don't weigh as much, and with amenities like sealed bearings, maintenance is minimal. They are also safer than motorized mowers -- no debris projectiles to dodge!

Shopping with criteria in mind

So, what should you look for when you make the choice to DIY your lawn and go green at the same time? Consider these ideas:

• What height do you want your grass to maintain? Different models have different max height settings. The Scotts Classic mower will go as high as 3 inches.
• How big is your lawn? The larger it is, the wider you'll want the cutting swath to be.
• How much maintenance are you willing to put up with? There's not much involved in any case other than blade adjustment and sharpening. Higher-grade models like the Brill Razorcut 38 claims to not need a sharpening for 8, count 'em, 8 years! Cheaper models are in the every year/every other year range.
• Price. The price of these mowers varies widely, from the $80 ballpark up to $300. Usually, like fancy plumbing fixtures, you get what you pay for, so shop around.

Ready to go green? Ready for a good workout? Ready for some quiet lawn work? Start shopping and get to mowing!

[Via www.icanfixupmyhome.com]

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