Buying a Walk-Behind Mower

Walk-behind mowers are the most ubiquitous of all yard machines. Rotary-style gasoline-engine units account for most of the market by far. Their designs have been tweaked to the point where you can usually start them with a battery and key or with a single pull of a recoil-type starter.

Mulching ability has been enhanced by improved deck and blade design. By mulching, you return nutrients to the soil and reduce the labor of bagging or raking. "Kickers" beneath the decks of Toro's Super Recycler mowers, for example, keep clippings suspended longer so they can be cut more times. Special blades with multiple edges are available as well. They cut grass into finer pieces for quicker decomposition, as well as less volume if you choose to bag.
Walk-behinds are safer than ever. The better units have a blade-brake clutch feature. When you stop to empty a collection bag or to pick up an obstacle and you let go of the bail, the blade safely stops but the engine continues to run. This eliminates the need to restart the mower, which is the case with blade-brake systems that kill the engine.

Walk-behind rotary mowers come in two basic types: self-propelled and push. There have been many innovations for the former. Ground speed controls, for example, now allow you to mow at the pace you desire. Toro's Personal Pace system conforms to your pace as you apply natural pushing pressure to the handle. You don't really have to think about it. No more need to constantly engage and disengage levers as you mow.

There are far fewer models of rotary push mowers (gasoline powered but not self-propelled), but they are still popular among budget-minded homeowners who have flat yards and don't intend to lug clippings. Push mowers are 10 to 30 pounds lighter than self-propelled mowers. They're lighter on your wallet, too -- $400 versus $600 for otherwise identical units in one case. Otherwise they share many of the same features with self-propelled mowers as described above.

Electric corded and cordless units are suitable for small to average-size lawns (2,500 square feet or less). Corded units are obviously limited to what they can mow by the location of the nearest electrical outlet and the maximum cord length, which is usually 100 feet. Their 12-amp motors produce adequate power to cut thick turf, but don't let your lawn get too tall or you'll be borrowing your neighbor's gasoline-powered mower. Some models come with a handle that flips front to back. You can mow without having to make turns at the end of each row -- thereby keeping the power cord to one side of the mower and out of harm's way. Electric mowers are available in widths up to 19 inches, will mulch clippings adequately, weigh under 50 pounds, and are equipped with a safety shutoff when you release the bail. Many offer various bagging options, including side and rear.

Cordless mowers give homeowners greater range than corded mowers, but you have to remember to charge them before mowing day. The batteries will need to be replaced after five to eight years, and the blade will need regular sharpening. Otherwise these units require very little maintenance or repair. Typical run times are 30 to 45 minutes.