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Five Tips for Buying a Mower
Choosing a lawn mower is a matter of sifting through a bewildering array of types, power ratings, and fuel sources. Let's break it down a little to make the process easier.

What types of walk-behind mowers are there?
There are four basic choices: push reel, electric, cordless, and gas. All have strengths and weaknesses.

• Push reel mowers are powered by you. They're quiet, they don't need cords or recharging, and they don't pollute. But on large lawns, you might not want the workout you get when using a push reel mower. They also tend to be less effective on grass taller than two inches.
• Electric mowers need to be plugged into an outlet to power them, which means you're constrained by the location of power outlets, the length of your power cord, and any obstacles that may snag the cord. If you have a small yard but don't want the forced exercise of using a push reel mower, an electric mower may be for you.
• Cordless mowers are powered by a rechargeable battery. You don't have to deal with the hassles of keeping a cord plugged in, but battery life becomes a constraint. Depending on the battery capacity, the size of your yard, and the height of your grass, you may not be able to complete your mowing job on one charge.
• Gas mowers offer the most power, which is best if you'll be mowing tall, dense grass or if your yard is larger than 2,000 square feet. But you will have to keep gas and oil on hand as well as keep the engine serviced.

What do all the power measurements mean?
All that matters to you is whether the lawn mower's blade will spin fast enough to cut your grass. Unfortunately, mowers are rated in far more technical terms.

For gas mowers, there are three power measurements you may see:

• horsepower (hp) refers to the amount of power the engine can produce;
• torque is the amount of horsepower that is transferred to the blade;
• cc (cubic centimeters) is another to measure an engine's power based on the displacement volume of its cylinders.

There also are two types of engines: two-stroke (also referred to as two-cycle) and four-stroke (or four-cycle). Conventional wisdom is that two-stroke engines offer more power but also more pollution.
For electric and cordless mowers, power often is measured in volts, amps, or watts. To satisfy your inner techie, here's how to calculate the horsepower:
3. Multiply the volts by the amps to get the wattage.
4. Divide the wattage by 746 to get the horsepower.

More horsepower doesn't always mean more cutting power. That's why, starting in 2007, most lawnmower manufacturers began rating walk-behind lawn mowers in torque power or cc's--not horsepower. If torque isn't available for a gas mower, higher cc figures usually mean higher torque (and more fuel used per stroke, incidentally).

However, you don't want to buy a mower based on the power measurement alone. Make sure it has the features, warranty, and quality of reviews you're seeking.

What features should I look for?

• Cutting Deck
  This refers to the blade housing. The wider the cutting deck, the fewer passes it will take to mow a given area. However, consider how many obstacles there are in your yard. The wider the deck, the tougher it may be to fit the mower into tight spaces.
  

   

• Mulching and Bagging
  Want to collect your clippings? Choose a mower with a rear- or side-bag option. Want to leave clippings on the lawn as fertilizer? Get a mower that mulches. A "3-in-1" mower will mulch, bag, or side-discharge.
  

   

• Wheels
  Larger wheels mean easier handling, especially over r
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