Reel Lawn Mowers

Push reel lawn mowers are the type of mowers that our grandparents would have used years ago before gas powered and electric mowers came into being, and although they have always been available to buy, over recent years they have been making a come-back!

Several Advantages...

So what’s all the fuss about reel lawn mowers – the push type anyway? Well, more and more people are becoming aware of our effects on the environment as we go about our daily business, and this is one big reason why reel mowers have fallen back into favor. When you add in the other benefits, such as they’re better for your lawn, and they’re a good form of exercise, you can see why many people are raving over them.

Luckily, the old-fashioned push reel mowers that your grandparents would have used are a thing of the past. Although the technology (or rather the principal) hasn’t changed, the way in which they are made has. Years ago these would have been very heavy and therefore difficult to push, but now they are constructed using much lighter materials including plastics which make them much lighter and easier to operate.

The major benefit with push reel mowers is their effect on the environment; or rather the fact that they have ‘no’ effect on the environment! There is no engine, and no engine means: no emissions, no polluting noise or fumes, and no maintenance. No maintenance means that the mower is far cheaper to run as there’s very little that can go wrong with it, plus you’re not paying out for gas and oil or the cost of electricity you use if you have an electric mower.

People say that mowing your lawn is so much more satisfying with a push reel lawn mower as you can enjoy the natural sights and sounds of your garden rather then running around in a cloud of pollutants! Reel mowers are pretty much silent which is not only nice for you, it’s nice for your neighbors too. And you have the satisfaction of knowing that your lawn has been mowed using your own power only. Obviously a certain amount of effort is required, but it’s a good form of exercise.

Push-type reel lawn mowers are also better for your lawn. They operate differently to the more commonly used rotary mowers. Instead of a blade which spins parallel to the grass and which tends to ‘tear’ your grass, rotaries go perpendicular and the series of blades cut the grass more like scissors do so which is far more healthy for it.

Some Disadvantages...

But, you do also need to be aware of the disadvantages of push reel lawn mowers before you rush out to buy one! First, you have to push them, but as they are now far lighter than they used to be this isn’t a major problem and really they won’t take any more effort than a push gas mower would do. The chief disadvantage is that if you are not one for regularly mowing your lawn you’re going to find it difficult to do it with a reel mower. Reel mowers work best if you cut the grass regularly and don’t let it grow too long; for one, if you let it grow too long it requires far more effort when you do come to cut it! Also there are some types of grass with reel mowers don’t cut so well, so check this out before buying.

Finally it will take you longer to mow with a reel mower than it would with a self-propelled one and for that reason they’re not really suitable for people with large lots. It depends on your stamina really, but it can get boring spending hours on the same job, so if you have more than about a 1/2 acre lot maybe a push reel lawn mower isn’t the best choice for you.