The Best Push Mowers for the Money
- Don't let your grass get too long.lawn image by Allyson Ricketts from Fotolia.com
A lawn mower keeps a lawn looking neat and trimmed, but mowing isn't just for keeping up appearances. Regular mowing helps ensure healthy grass, and a poorly performing lawn mower can leave your lawn mangled and stressed. With dozens of push mowers on the market, choosing the best one can be difficult. Thankfully, third-party critics and gardening experts have highlighted several lawn mowers that give the best performance for the money. - The staff at "Consumer Reports" magazine tested this Toro lawn mower and gave it a Best Buy award for its high-quality features and low price. The mower features a wide (22 inch) cutting deck and a mulching system, which can boost the health of your lawn, in addition to a bagging system. A self-propelling mechanism helps when you're pushing it up hills, while a no-priming engine lets you start the mower faster. As of October 2020, the Toro 20332 had a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $369.
- An electric lawn mower provides several advantages over a traditional gas-powered mower, mainly a lower running cost and much quieter performance. Plus, the engine releases no polluting fumes. The ability to mow without polluting the air is ideal for landscapers and gardeners concerned about air pollution. When it comes to electric mowers, Neuton's CE 6.2 is the best, according to the editors of "Organic Gardening" magazine. The winner of the magazine's Editor's Choice award, it includes a 19-inch cutting deck and a battery that lets you mow for 60 minutes on a full charge. The Neuton CE 6.2 had a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $449 as of October 2010.
- The name may be unwieldy, but Honda's model HRX217K2HMA has won many accolades. ConsumerSearch.com aggregated reviews from numerous sources, including "Consumer Reports" and "Consumer's Digest," and ranked it as 2009's best gasoline-powered push mower. Meanwhile, the entire Honda line of lawn mowers ranked the highest in "J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Walk-Behind Lawn Mower Study," earning praise for their durability, performance, economical operation and total customer satisfaction. Features include an all-electric ignition for easy startup. Additionally, its engine emissions comply with the state of California's air emissions regulations. This Honda mower had a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $899 as of October 2010.
- Toro's 20194 mower is truly super, according to "Consumer Reports." Magazine staff gave it one of the highest ratings in their review of push mowers, liking such features as its all-aluminum body and Honda engine. Besides a 21-inch cutting deck, you'll also get an engine with a sensor. As you push it, its self-propulsion system slows down or speeds up to adjust to your walking pace. Such self-propulsion helps make the entire mowing experience less tiring. In October 2010, Toro's 20194 Super Bagger had a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $629.99.
