Remember when the only decision you had to make in purchasing a lawn mower was how much you wanted to spend?

It was easy—you basically got what you paid for. It might not always start, but the decision was easy!

Now, purchasing a lawn mower is more like buying a car, except without the wheeling and dealing.

Lawn mowers have come a long ways. New advances in technology make most models cleaner and quieter, according to Dennis Skinner of Skinner’s Garage, Inc., of Pickford. And some, such as the Toro® brands, are guaranteed to start on a couple of pulls. Other advances include low emissions, self-propelled, battery-powered, push, zero-turn, and someday, a robot mower (a robomower?).

The type of mower you choose will largely depend on the size of your lawn and type of terrain, also perhaps on your age, according to Skinner.

“It depends on the age of the person,” says Skinner, who sells a variety of models at his store. “Some people want the exercise.”

Since I’m writing this to electric co-op members around the state, I’m assuming you live in the country and have a medium to large lawn (a half-acre or more). So, I’ll talk about some mowers I think are suitable for larger lawns. Battery powered mowers are nice and quiet, but from my experience just aren’t practical, at least not yet, even for a medium-sized lawn.

Riders and Zero-Turn Mowers
A lawn tractor, which is a riding mower with the engine in front and used exclusively for mowing, is a good choice for medium to large lawns. These have been around a long time now, so it shouldn’t be hard to find a reliable ride if you’re willing to pay the price, which runs between $1,500 and $3,000. Things to look for on these mowers is the width of the cut, size and make of the engine, and ease with which you can remove and replace the deck to change or sharpen the blades.

The relatively “new kid on the block” is the zero-turn mower (ZRT). Until recently, these mowers were reserved for commercial lawn care companies. Now, you can get a home model for just a little more than what you’d spend on a good lawn tractor. The nice thing about these mowers is you can cut your mowing time by up to one-half. I’m quite thankful for the person who invented this machine. Now, instead of reserving an afternoon or evening for mowing my large lawn (about a quarter-acre), I can get it done while my wife is cooking supper. What makes them more efficient is their speed on straightways, and there is no stopping to shift gears. Everything is done with the shoulder-high handles.

Zero-turn mowers have two handles that effectively control the rear wheels; when you move one handle forward and the other in reverse, you’ve rotated the mower in place. This makes it quick and easy to maneuver around objects, though it may not eliminate the need to use a push mower for some tight spots.

The only drawback to lawn tractors and ZRTs, according to Skinner, is they’re limited to just mowing, and perhaps pulling a small trailer. For bigger jobs (and bigger money) Skinner suggests a garden tractor, or what is now called a “subcompact estate tractor.” These machines have a three-point hitch for a tiller attachment and a two-stage snow thrower. These tractors are most often purchased by folks with five or more acres and lots of tilling and snow removal.

Walk Behind/Self-Propelled Mowers
Walk-behind mowers have come a long way, too. Now, like a car, we can choose from front- or rear-wheel drive. Rear-wheel models are good for mowing on inclines; the front-wheel types are better at maneuvering around stationary objects. Most walk behind models feature a 3-in-1 unit that includes optional side discharge, mulch and rear bag, with the cost all rolled into one, Skinner says. Mulching is a good option, as the clippings add nitrogen and organic material to your lawn.

Other features to look for in a self-propelled model include electric start and a blade brake clutch. Both features can add cost, but the electric start on push lawn mowers shows we’ve come a long way from the days of priming, pulling, and huffing and puffing to start them! If you wish to spare the cost, that’s okay, a good quality mower starts pretty easy these days with the pull of a cord. A blade brake clutch is a necessary feature if you need to disengage the blade often while leaving the engine running. For mowing over rough terrain, consider a model with large (12-inch) rear tires.

Expect to pay no more than $400 for a quality self-propelled model, less than $200 for a push mower.

Things to look for in a mower:

• Does the mower deck have rollers?
• Is there a fuel tank gauge?
• Riding comfort
• Warranty
• Follow-up service