Are you doing most of your own lawn work? A survey by the National Gardening Association finds Americans are tightening their belts and taking things into their own hands when it comes to lawn maintenance.
Looking to keep your lawn well manicured, without slicing through a lot of green? Consumer Reports put more than 100 mowers thru their paces, mowing more than 18 acres this year alone, at its Florida test site. Testers spent six sweaty weeks –mowing, mulching, side-discharging, weighing bagged clippings, and even getting down on their hands and knees to judge how evenly a mower cuts.
When it was all over, Consumer Reports found the least expensive mowers didn’t always make the cut. Among them, a $130 mower from Murray; it has an engine that lacks oomph, only discharges from the side – no bagging or mulching — and worse yet — you have to assemble it yourself.
“And keep your wrenches handy. To change the cutting height, you’re going to have to take off each wheel. Most mowers allow you to simply do that by adjusting a lever,” said Peter Sawchuck of Consumer Reports.
A $140 weed eater is another one you have to build. And while a $240 Brute comes assembled – as the least expensive, self-propelled mower tested — its mediocre performance makes it no bargain. Plus it began rusting after a few weeks of routine cleaning.
“If you don’t mind using a little muscle, we rated two push mowers that cost even less ‘Best Buys,'” said Sawchuck.
They are a $195 Murray 11A-A23K and a $200 Troy-Bilt TB-110. Both of these top-performers have premium engines and let you easily adjust cutting height.
Want to use less muscle mowing your lawn? Consider a single-speed, self-propelled mower. Consumer Reports found several good options from Toro for around $300 – including the top-rated Toro 20370.
Consumer Reports is published by Consumers Union. Both Consumer Reports and Consumers Union are not-for-profit organizations that accept no advertising. Neither has any commercial relationship with any advertiser or sponsor on this site.
(All Consumer Reports Material Copyright 2011. Consumers Union of U.S. Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)
<!– POLL
ABC7 Poll
–>
Get more 7 On Your Side ยป
consumer reports, 7 on your side, michael finney
<!–
–>
- Comment Now
- Report a typo
-
Recently Published
-
Tips to buy the best lawn mower
- Comment Now
-
-
Huge bills can happen even with health insurance
- Comment Now
-
-
Consumer Reports tests how hot new iPad gets
- Comment Now
-
Speak Your Mind